PENNY-WISE
The Official Publication of the Early American Coppers, Inc.
Vol. IX, No. 6
Consecutive Issue No. 51
November 15, 1975
Here’s your last issue for 1975 of America’s fanzine Uno Numero which is
designed especially for those devot ees o f the early coppers. It’s another big
issue, and we hope you’ll like it!
P-W gets bigger and bette r aj . the tir re , a nd this issue is filled with lots of
good news and perhaps sopsten5a'd news - but mSyto^not too bad (see the next
page , page 260) .
Among the
the Chain AMCRI cent.
And John Wright is
Del BlangJ^ repori
ides, we think
especially like Mik^^riffith's article on
the find of aNaew 1 801 NC3 .
ithe 1819's. x"hen there’s
fees .
F dr the Cs
and T/ D . Ho\l
Doug Winter reports on
ligs you up-to-date on the Talbot,
je of WilYi. a i' ri Wood ,
Lee tokens,
"here’s a lot of goodies for the half cent collectors too. We know ^pu’ll like
Pfeffer’s update article on the 1793’s and 1794’s. John Cogan has cbme up
a wonderful quiz - if you participate, you can win a prize! And Jon Lusk
come up with an interesting observation which needs your further stuc / and
iisideration .
As in the past, each issue of PENNY-WISE derives its nickname fron the
% e of the articles included therein. Perhaps this issue should be calle d the
jrtisement Issue, because it is filled with many tempting offers , both.
and in catalogues. If you’re shopping, P-W is the pic
In between.,
of address ,
editors, etc!
there are lots of other goodies: lists of nev
ig of the best of the half cent sales in
thanks to Bruce Remick for his front I
look!
ibers
., letters
irlay dr; wing!
changes
to the
[P-W No. 52 a wf| ^bjfc going out on or about Jc
so det your dues to t# John Wright so that
letters and articles Jp-^W 'depute ^pof
tio/s to make it the gre?c fttPutf ilic^H4n that»t is .
dof’t hesitate to sound off! All
D/cember 31 in order to be included
1 976 or there; it
J n't^Oisyan issue. Keep your
Juqpsontributions and c Dser va-
ns bulletin is your forVim, so
'ial^8§« eluding ads, must be receive® by
Which winds us up just in time to say in regards to Thanksgiving, Charfykah,
^hristmas Day, and New Year’s Day - have a HAPPY! See you in January!’
DoftS*£grget!
Warren A. Lapp,
Editor and Publisher
The Staff of PENNY-WISE
- 259 -
DUES ARE GOING UP!
The cost of publishing and distributing PENNY-WISE ran $1 7 . per member
this past year as against dues of $10. per person. We were able to maintain
solvency only by additional income from advertising, sales of indexes and
attribution articles, special gifts from members, and revenue from our annual
show - but only barely.
Costs of labor, supplies, coin plates, postage, mailing envelopes, and all
the other multitude of expenses necessary to the preparation of PENNY-WISE
have been spiralling upward at a rapid pace . P-W now contains more pages of
print, better informational material, and a wealth of coin plates than it ever did.
If the quality of P-W is to be continued, the dues must be sufficiently raised to
offset most of its cost. EAC cannot continue to operate P-W at a deficit.
Hence, regrettably, EAC dues have to be raised. The dues have been kept
at $10. annually since their inception in 1968. With great reluctance, the
officers must make this dues change at this time.
1976 dues are due now! No bills will be sent out. This is your notification
that they are due. EAC dues for 1976 will be accepted until December 10, 1975
at $12.50. Checks received after December 10 should be for the new annual
dues rate of $1 5 . Prepaid subscriptions now on the books will be honored at the
old rate, and the new rate of $15. will become effective when such subscriptions
expire .
Efforts are still in progress to obtain a Second Class mailing privilege for
EAC . If and when this becomes a reality, and provided that savings on postage
are as much as anticipated, the dues wilt be adjusted downward accordingly.
Notice of such an adjustment would appear in P-W, of course, and any such re-
bates would be credited to one's next year's dues.
First-year memberships will no longer be handled for less than a half year.
New members joining at a time when one or two issues still remain in the year
should remit $2.50 per each issue remaining, plus $15. for the ensuing year.
Many of our most recent new members have done exactly that (at the old dues-
rate, of course), and they are already credited with 1976 dues.
Checks should be made out to EARLY AMERICAN COPPERS, INC. and
forwarded to John D. Wright, Treasurer, 1468 Timberland Drive, St. Joseph,
Michigan, 49085.
John Wright also handles all address changes . If you change your address
at any time, you should notify John promptly of your new address. If you for-
ward your address change to Bill Parks, Herb Silberman, or the Editor, you
are only delaying receipt of your next issue .
9|c3fc3|e3|c3ie:fc3|t:fc:|c:|e$$$
ROD BURRESS 9743 Leacrest Cincinnati, Ohio 4521 5
For Sale or Trade; Complete sets of PENNY-WISE by photocopy.
Proportionate prices for partial sets or single issues. Will accept large cents
in trade . Write for details .
*************
- 260 -
THE 1793 CHAIN "AMERI"
- SYMBOLISM OR ERROR?
Michael Griffith
World-Wide Coin Investments, Ltd.
The Chain AMERI cent continues to intrigue me. We are 182 years removed
from that coin, and yet it seems to carry more marks of early America than
perhaps any other single piece. I marvel at its stark simplicity, the crudity of
its design, and the unfinished look which it possesses. If it is not the precursor
of our coinage , then nothing is .
Perhaps, it is essential to go back to that period to study the man - and the
time - that produced such a large, bungling, copper penny.
Henry Voight was originally employed in the Mint on a temporary basis .
He was hired for his skill as an operational mechanic; and, like Mint Director
David Rittenhouse, he was a well-known watch maker. In 1791 , he had helped
John Fitch in the construction of the first American steamboat.
On July 9, 1792, he was officially hired as Coiner, and his job was to
prepare the necessary machines for coining. As Chief Coiner and Engraver,
he had the option of being in one office; but, at the time, it was understood that
Voight was "no engraver himself, and therefore proposed that he shall consider
the cost of engraving dies as a charge to be deducted from his salary of 1 ,500
dollars" .
In a letter from Rittenhouse to Washington on July 9, 1 792, it was noted
that Voight already had several workmen employed "in making the necessary
engines and preparing the dies". The workmen probably were Robert Birch,
who designed the 1792 half disme and the large Birch cents; Adam Eckfeldt, who
designed the obverse of the disme; and John Wright, who made the die trial for
the quarter dollar. These men showed substantial talent, as evidenced by their
works. The Birch cent may be crude, but Eckfeldt *s disme and Wright's quarter
dollar are marked by a simplistic beauty which is amazing, considering the
equipment then available.
Perhaps the "roughest" of the tot was a silver-centered pattern cent pre-
pared by Voight, himself. It was executed in December of 1792 for the purpose
of giving Congress a choice as to the size for the proposed copper cent. The
piece was about the size of the future half cent, and it carried the head of an
extremely homely Miss Liberty. Actually, Voight probably was more interested
in giving Congress an example of a bi-metallic coin than he was in impressing
them with any artistic design.
On January 14, 1793, Congress passed a bill amending the weights of the
proposed copper coinage. Now, everything was settled and ready to be put to
use. The new Mint buildings were complete; most machinery was in place; and
the workers had been hired. The weights of the coins had been established by
Congress; and the design was fixed, in part, by law. Each denomination was
to have "an impression emblematic of liberty, with the inscription of the word
- 261
LIBERTY, and the year of the coinage”. Upon the reverse of the copper coins,
there was to be an inscription which would express the denomination of the
piece .
We are now at the point of two crucial questions; why did it fall to Voight ,
himself, to design the first cent? and why did he choose the designs that he
did?
Let us consider the first question. I believe that Voight, as Chief Coiner,
felt perhaps it was both part of his job as well as an honor to design the first
coin. There was some practicality in it, too. Voight was not out to rob either
Birch, Eckfeldt, or Wright of any glory. Each, in turn, had designed a pattern
for the proposed denominations. At this point, Voight felt that the half disme,
the disme, and the quarter dollar would soon follow. He may have already
assigned the task of designing the 1 793 half cent to Eckfeldt. Each of them
would "have his hour upon the stage" and each would be the progenitor of a new
coin. This policy of giving everyone his "turn" seems to have been carried out
as 1793 progressed. In April, Eckfeldt designed the half cent and the 1793
Wreath cent; and shortly before his death in the fall of 1793, Wright designed
the 1 793 Liberty Cap cent .
The second question was: why did Voight choose the designs he did for the
Chain AMERI? I think his immediate intention was to copy no one else's work.
He wanted to come up with a design which was originally his own , one which
was a little familiar, yet highly symbolic, within the limits allowed. His
designs may have been crude, but his intentions were extremely purposeful and
his ideas well thought out. The head of Miss Liberty was his, no wilder than
that of Eckfeldt's disme, but all the more determined, all the more alert -
peering intently into the future. For what is a more beautiful concept of free-
dom than a young woman running through a field, her hair blowing in the breeze,
wide-eyed with innocence and anticipation? Truly, this was America in 1793!
Now let us consider the reverse of the coin. All that was required was an
inscription to express the denomination of the piece - other than that, Voight
was free to roam. He deliberately avoided any state coinage designs. He
wished to be declared neither partial nor mundane. Yet, he again sought
something familiar. The only copper coin with any nominal circulation and
government sanction had been the Fugio cent, struck a mere six years previous,
and probably still in circulation . He discarded the wreath from his pattern
probably for two reasons; one, the symbolism, if any, was neither apparent
nor powerful; secondly, Birch's cent had a wreath, and Voight wanted some-
thing of his own. So, from the Fugio, he copied the symbolism of the chain -
but not the chain, itself. When one views the two coins together, nowhere is
there a similarity. The Fugio coin carries the impression of unity but not of
strength - for the brackets of the chain are weak and thin. Voight’s chain is
strong, and the political change is now symbolized - it is the United States which
protects the links - in 1793, it was the states which gave their power to a
smally--worded "United States".
- 262 -
Added to the symbolism of the chain is a two-pronged approach for teach-
ing America the new decimal system. ONE CENT is spelled out, and then
produced in a fraction 1/100. That's a lot of mathematics for one coin!
We now come to the most intriguing part of all - the AMERI ! There are
some who have suggested that the engraver felt he was too short of room to
spell out AMERICA, but a careful observer would see that this is not true.
Breen, in his monograph U.S. Minor Coinages , felt that all the Chain cents
were coined between March 1-12, 1793. This would leas/e very little time to
design a coin, run it until the die shatters, make another, and continue it until
it also wears out . Odds are that all four 1 793 Chain obverses and the two
reverses were designed at the same time - at least two coining presses. Then
why one reverse with AMERI and the other with AMERICA? Surely, it would
have been no great task to go back and punch in the C and A . On a coin designed
so intently for educating the public with the decimal system, surely the complete
spelling of AMERICA would be desired. But what if AMERI was fully intentional?
Maybe its designer, so teen on symbolism, desired one more visual impact as
part of the first coin for the United States of America!
What was the United States like in March of 1793? Washington was about to
start his second term of office. The Congress and the Supreme Court were just
beginning to find their places. After years of discussion, the Mint was just
starting to put out coins . Surely, Voight must have looted back and realized
that the future of this country was potential - and not recorded - history. In
his job, rushed as he was, he must have realized keenly that little had occurred
so far , and so much was evolving. He must have had the ambivalent feeling of
"at last we are getting somewhere, yet we have so far to go". And so, with
punches in hand and symbolism on a poetic mind, Voight left the word AMERICA
unfinished within a space of ample accompaniment, because America was
unfinished, there was much to be done, and everything seemed so dependent
upon the future! Indeed, there was a double lesson on the back of that early
copper! If the chain did not become a reality of true strength, then neither
would America see its own completeness .
We often do a great disservice to the people of the past when we attribute
to them the limitations of the Twentieth Century - shortness of time and limita-
tions of space . These early Americans were very, very deliberate people .
They thought hard and deeply in this new era. They were acutely aware of the
changes which they had seen occur, and they took their time to argue minute
points. Little escaped their probing thoughts, and everything had its purpose.
Congress argued for weeks on how to address Mr. Washington. Washington, in
turn, performed each task with deliberate thought, so as to establish traditions
and protocol.
Surely, those people of less importance in that era carried many of these
same feelings. For the most part, they were deep— feeling people who placed
much emphasis on religion and sentiment . They were more poetic by nature
because they were the less scientific . It is not necessarily maudlin to attribute
deeper feelings to them, for we are not out to sanctify them, but merely to
place each man in his own historical environment.
- 263
Voight designed his coin for the future: a harbinger, representing potential
- an incompleteness, summoning Americans to action - a thought that the people
themselves would be the ones to determine where the history of America was
to be placed.
We have come a long, long way since 1 793 - the chains have long been
forged and have been found to be extremely strong - but the AMERI is still there!
Surely, we cannot ask for a stronger, more meaningful symbol for today!
*************
Editor’s Note: The above article was forwarded with the following note from
its author: "I am enclosing an article which I have been working on for some
time and one which I thought EACers might enjoy. The 1793 Chain AMERI is by
far my most favored coin. It’s just full of history, all by itself.
Having completed this article , I hope to get some time to put another one
together on the other Chain cents and then eventually move into the 1 793
Wreath and Liberty Cap cents . I have a lot of material on hand , and now all I
need is the time, ideas, and spirit to put some thoughts on paper.
I'm anxious to know what you think of the above article. I know that I’m
on touchy ground when I project things from the past and attempt psychological
answers where nothing else exists. But, I consider it all foor for thought, and
sometimes it may hit closer to the truth than the so-called 'logical' guesses."
I’m sure that all EACers will agree with me that Mike has come up with an
outstanding article - it's informative, it's entertaining, it’s provocative, and it
fits in very well with the nation's planned Bicentennial Celebration for 1976.
I know that I'll be looking forward to future articles from Mike on the 1793
cents, and I'm sure that I'll have a lot of company in that respect. It's articles
such as that above which makes PENNY-WISE so very valuable for the
specialists in the big coppers. Our thanks, Mike. Keep up the great job!
Mike Griffith works for World-Wide Coin Investments, Limited, which is
located at 2970 Peachtree Road, N.W., Suite 430, Atlanta, Georgia, 30305,
telephone (404) 262-1810. Mike mentioned that if any of the members want to
send him their want lists for either half cents or large cents, he would be happy
to receive them. And I'm sure that Mike would give such lists his own personal
attention .
Along the same line, another quote from Mike's letter is in order. Mike
said "World-Wide bought a beautiful old collection last week, and I had a field
day going through it. Found a 1794 Cohen— 8 in FI 5 — a beautifully surfaced coin.
(It's already in an EAC collection.) I also found a S-86 in VF, which would put
it in the Condition Census. Another rarity was the S-116. It was rough to grade,
as the wear is Fine, but some pitting puts it into an overall Good."
*************
- 264 -
A NEW 1801 NC3 FOUND AT LIBERTY COIN SHOW IN MINNESOTA
Richard V. Punchard
Having contributed little or nothing to EAC for nearly three years, I
thought that it was about time that an effort on my part was due. So, with
your kind indulgence, I would like to report occasionally on the local coin
shows in and around the Minneapolis -St . Paul area. Since I am, to my know-
ledge, the only EAC member here, I feel a certain responsibility and maybe
I can stimulate some interest locally also. Surely there must be others in
our membership who are also "loners" and who know what I mean.
On September 13-14, 1975, an annual fall coin show was held at the
armory in West St. Paul, Minnesota. It was sponsored by the Liberty Coin
Club of St. Paul. The Saturday hours were given as 1 0 A.M. to 5 P.M.; so
by 9:15 A.M. that morning, armed with my Sheldon book, Loring's revision,
Wright's guide for the middle dates, current COIN WORLD Trends, my
checkbook, and a little cash, I motored off in my van toward West St. Paul.
There was just a hint of color in the trees and it was a bright, clear day.
These made quite a setting as I crossed the Mendota Bridge where the
Mississippi and Minnesota rivers meet.
I arrived ten minutes early, and was surprised to find most of the forty
dealers already set up and conducting business. Looking first at the displays,
I noticed the usual coins seen in this area - mostly silver, some foreign, but
no Colonials or half cents or large cents except those in Type sets.
Spotting the first dealer known to me, I could almost read his mind as I
approached - probably something like "Oh no! Here comes that large cent
freak again, I wonder if he'll spend another 25 minutes at my table with all
his damn books spread out, then tell me that I've mis -attributed my over-
priced coppers, and possibly, if I'm lucky, he'll buy something?" But I just
smiled and said "Hi. What do you have in large cents today?", upon which he
directed me to his case and with a sigh, replied "right here". I guess that the
only real advantage one has of being a lone EAC member in the area is that you
get to see most everything available. Such was the case this day.
Ever since I returned from the EAC Annual Meeting held last winter in
New York City, I've tried to put into practice Walter Breen's comment made
on that occasion. When asked if he would examine a coin for a fellow mem-
ber, Mr. Breen replied "I'll look at anything once." To me, this says it all.
For his words , my reward came about noon that day when I approached
a local dealer and seeing nothing in his case, I asked if he had any large cents
for sale . He pointed to a plastic page in a note book which held ten or twelve
low grade coppers, all unattributed. While looking at several 1800's in AG
and trying to attribute them, I noticed an 1801 in about the same condition with
the obverse nicer than the reverse, probably a 5/3. Turning it over, I noticed
- 265 -
the fraction 1/000. I thought that it might be an S-219, a 220, or a 223; and
since I already have the S--21 9 and S-223, I hoped that it would turn out to be
the S-220. To my surprise, the berry across from the E was in the wrong
place and there was no evidence of a die break I figured it was time to back
up and to review the book. Ruling out the other possibilities one by one,
suddenly it struck me! WOW! It's got to be an NC3! ! !
Regaining my composure somewhat, I wondered how John Wright or Denis
Loring might react under the circumstances. I’m sure that both of them
would agree that it is extremely difficult to examine a coin while shifting from
one foot to another and with mounting pressure on one’s bladder. However,
with an unsteady hand, I managed to pay the dealer $6. 1 5 for the copper. My
next stop was the restroom before re-attributing my find. Needless to say,
this was my first NC discovery.
The rest of the time which I spent at the show was less productive . How-
ever, I did find an 1817 N-1 7 in Fine, and I also purchased a lot containing
four 1800’s, unattributed, in low grades, for a minimal sum. I enjoy spend-
ing time trying to attribute such varieties - some can be really tough, but
I'm always hoping to find a rare one for my troubles.
I made a return trip the next day to buy an S-148 with the die break. As
I drove home, I wondered how long that 1801 NC3 might have been in that
plastic page and how many times before, I might have passed it up, because
of its low grade .
Incidentally, the dealer gave me the original envelope for the coin . It is
white and at the top on the face are spaces for the number, date, and price.
Written in, with an old-fashioned ink pen, is "1801 , 1/000, Good, $1 ." On
the back, there is a black circle with Guttag Bros. , New York printed around
it, while in the center are the initials G.B . If anyone has any information on
this firm, I would appreciate hearing from them.
%************
Editor’s Note: For Dick Punchard and the otter EAC members who might be
interested, the following information re: Guttag Bros, is presented.
Guttag Bros, was primarily a foreign exchange brokerage firm, located
at 55 William Street, in lower Manhattan. The firm also dealt in numismatic
material, especially foreign coins; and its bi-colored ads in the ANA's
NUMISMATIST in the 1 920 's were conspicuous by the red monogram of the
firm. The firm regularly published the Guttag COIN BULLETIN for its patrons.
The firm was owned by Julius and Henry Guttag, Julius being the better
known in the field of numismatics .
Julius Guttag was born in New York City in 1 884. At the age of fifteen,
he became interested in coin collecting and was stimulated in his endeavors
through an association with Farran Zerbe . Over the years, he developed an
- 266 -
outstanding collection of Latin American coins, and he also amassed a re-
nowned collection of Civil War tokens and Hard Times tokens.
He joined ANA in 1907 as No. 856, and became Life Member No. 24 in
1926. He attended his first ANA Convention in 1910, continued to be active
in the organization thereafter, and served on the ANA's Board of Governors
in 1923. In 1957, he was awarded the organization's 50 year gold member-
ship medal at the ANA Convention in Philadelphia.
Julius Guttag's middle years were spent in New Rochette (Westchester
County), New York, where in 1934 he became the founder and first president
of the Westchester Coin Club. Also, he was responsible for getting the U.S.
Mint to issue the New Rochette commemorative half dollar, struck in 1938.
He held membership in several other New York City coin clubs, includ-
ing the American Numismatic Society. He was made a Patron of the
American Numismatic Society after he donated to ANS the coin press used by
the Bechtlers, along with a large portion of his Latin American coin
collection .
With his brother, Henry, and with Edgar Adams, he was the co-author of
several articles which appeared in THE NUMISMATIST. He collaborated
with Dr. George Hettrich of Birdsboro, Pennsylvania to publish CIVIL WAR
TOKENS AND TRADESMEN'S STORE' CARDS, which work is still con-
sidered authoritative and its H-G numbers are still applied to many such
tokens. His CATALOGUE OF LATIN AMERICAN COINS is still considered
a standard. THE COINS OF THE AMERICAS, published in 1927, and HARD
TIMES TOKENS were written in association with his brother, Henry, and
were released under the name of the Guttag Bros.
In later life, Julius Guttag returned to Manhattan to live. He retired from
business in 1948 and closed his firm, but he still continued to pursue his
numismatic avocation until his death. He died in New York City on March 27,
1 962, at the age of 78.
i
Julius Guttag is well-remembered as one of the great numismatists of
his era. However, he is probably best remembered as the man who brought
numismatics to the attention of the American public by originating National
Coin Week in 1923, an event which is still observed annually.
*************
MAX DRAISNER
137 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY 1 001 1
Telephone: (212) 675-1311
WANTED: Choice U.S. and foreign Patterns and coins
*************
- 267 -
United States Large Cents
1793-1857
An anthology edited by
Warren A. Lapp and
Herbert A. Silberman
This anthology, seventh in the series GLEANINGS FROM THE NUMISMATIST, contains over 100
articles written between 1895 and 1971 concerning U.S. large cents and half cents. Many
were written by such noted authorities as Charles Steigerwalt, George H. Clapp, Howard R.
Newcomb, and Charles E. McGirk. As well as sections on the large cents and half cents,
including restrikes and overdates, an introductory section concerns the history of the
U.S. Mint and the large cents.
While some articles contain information outdated by later research, they show the pro-
gression of knowledge in the field and allow current collectors to share the observations
made by those men who helped to popularize large cent and half cent collecting. This 672-
page hardcover anthology should not only provide depth and meaning to the studies of ad-
vanced collectors, but also whet the appetite of novice collectors. To add to the useful-
ness of this volume, the editors have compiled, in addition to the reprinted articles from
The Numismatist , a foreword and several appendixes which include profiles of old-time
collectors and dealers, references, glossary, and a price guide using the basal value sys-
tem and cross-referenced to several numbering systems (Sheldon, Crosby, Doughty, etc.) for
each variety. All this information, new and old, makes this anthology a necessity for
novice and advanced collectors and all those interested in the history of and research
into early U.S. coinage.
$35.00
Quarterman Publications, Inc.
5 South Union Street
Lawrence, Massachusetts 01806
-268 -
THE CENTS OF 1819
John D. Wright
Variability is the keynote of the cents of 1819, which boast overdates,
large dates, small dates, wide dates, close dates with stars very near and far
from the dates, and two distinctive letter styles on the reverse. Mintage of
record is 2,671 ,000 pieces often die combinations. No cent of 1819 is really
rare, but a couple are scarce enough to provide a bit of challenge - especially
for the aficionado of choice copper. One major and one minor hoard-variety
makes this an easy year for the discriminating date-collector.
The year 1 81 9 introduced a complete new set of letter and numeral punches
for U.S. large cents, as well as a temporary return to the earlier die-chaining
practices. With few exceptions, most cent dies since 1808 had boasted a single
mate - indeed, the only chain in this period to exceed two varieties was the
final group of 1 81 7 varieties . Probably most if not all dies prepared during
1 81 9 bore the marks of new puncheons . The old-style numeral punches appear
on two of the seven obverses - and both of these are cut over 1818. The old-
style letter punches appear on five of the eight reverses.
The letter styles appear on 1819 cent reverses. The first is identical to
those found on 1818 and before, and is the style most often found on 19th
century billboards, here designated "Square-serif" for its most prominent
feature. All E's and F's have square inner serifs, O's have curved inner lines,
S's are broad at their vertical curves.
The last three reverse dies prepared for 1819 use a new set of punches, in
a style to be dubbed "Century" seventy years later, replacing the broken set
in use until then. Round letters have squared insides, all inner serifs are
plainly triangular , all point-serifs are much finer, S's have narrow fore-and-
aft curves, C's are nearly closed, other minor differences abound. For once,
the U.S. Mint was several decades ahead of the times, as the Century type was
hailed as something new and wonderful when it was introduced to the printing
industry in 1890.
The earliest 1819 cents are from the large, pre-1819 date-punches, the
first obverse die even using the glob-looped 6-punch from the 1816 cents, now
inverted as a 9 and punched over an obvious 8. One of the earlier varieties
shows both styles of digit punches, the newer impressed over the older. Over
twenty years would pass before some workman again tried this trick in 1840.
Proofs are known of two of the ten 1 81 9 cent varieties and rumored for
two more. All are extremely rare, the most common at high R7 being cent
1904. At least two varieties of 1 81 9 cents are commonly seen in Prooflike
Uncirculated, and several of these have been offered as Proofs in years past -
and no doubt will be again in years future .
It is convenient to group the varieties of this year into three classes: the
large dates, the small dates with square-serif reverses, and the small dates
- 269 -
with Century reverses. It would be nice to be able to sequence all 1819 cent
varieties within these classes, but the evidence of die states within one die-
chain of the year dashes any such hope and we are forced to assign the last
variety-slot to a square-serif reverse. This die was definitely an unused left-
over, prepared before any other 1819 reverse die, though used after all of them.
Cent 1 901 Obvious overdate N-1 (1 -A)
Highest leaftip centered under S
1 901
(N-1)
Obverse 1 : Stars 2, 3, 5, 9 point between dentils, and stars 6, 7, 10, 12
nearly do. Star 2 is obviously recut on two points, star 4 on three.
There is an inner circle under the dentil-tips, most obvious at bottom and
right. Sixth star is right of coronet tip. The date is from the large old-
style punches with script 8. The 9 is the same punch as used inverted for
a "6" on 1816 cents, the "knob" below its inner loop being quite apparent.
The 9 is cut over a plainly visible 8 which shows strongly, closing the
mouth of the 9 and framing its upper loop. Other lighter traces also show
on some pieces. Lowest curl does not quite reach to right upright of
second 1 , and the first 1 is equidistant from bust and dentils. Y of
LIBERTY has a long horizontal graver scratch from its left foot.
Reverse A: Leaves NC, C, NC, C. Lettering is square-serif as on cents of
1 81 8 and before . Right feet of all T’s and I of AMERICA have been
manually repaired; E of ONE is low and tilts left; letters ENT are pro-
gressively lower. Center dot tiny or missing.
Striking variations: No notable cracks. Dentilation fades slightly on both
sides as dies wear. Latest strikes show light rim crumbling on obverse
at K1-3. Usually found well-centered and sharply struck.
Discussion: R1 +, fairly common in all grades . 65-65-65-65-65-65. At least
one more 65 is known, followed by over three dozen 60's and many AU’s.
- 270 -
Yet, in spite of its commonness, when a Cent 1901 is a pretty penny, it sells
at a pretty penny - likely due to its overdate status.
Two Proof examples of this variety are known, only one of which is currently
traced. Early (regulation) strikes occasionally come prooflike.
Cent 1 902
1 almost touches bust
N-2 (2-B)
Obverse 2: No star points between dentils, nor do any come within the width
of a star-point of doing so. A doubled dentil at K9, just above star 3,
shows on early strikes . There is a strong inner circle under the dentil
tips at left, which fades out at right. Sixth star points right of coronet
tip. Top of first 1 is very close to bust above. This die has commonly
been called the "Large Date" variety. The date is from the old, large
punches, but overpunched with a set of large new-style punches. Usually
some trace of the script 8 shows under the overpunched block 8. Early
and many intermediate specimens show a light line closing the mouth of
the 9. Lowest curl extends to right edge of second 1 , first 1 is quite close
to the bust above, nearer it than to dentil below. L of LIBERTY is recut
below, I is higher than L - B, and this is the only 1819 obverse that lacks
a line under ER .
Reverse B: Leaves PC, NR, VNC, C. Letters are square-serif . There is a
triplet dentil above U, and the right feet of all I’s and T’s are patched.
There is a regulai — shaped chip, similar to the serif of a D, on the leaf
which crosses under the stem below the first S of STATES. C of CENT
leans left and has a weak tail . ONE has N recut below its left foot and E
recut at lower right. Medium center dot.
Striking variations; Comes in three basic die-conditions; early, rusted, and
lapped. Early strikes are usually sharp, often prooflike, and usually show
- 271
faint circumferential cracks through the date and several stars . The area
below and to the left of the final 9 is raised from the engraver's efforts to
efface the underlying 8., Dentilation is crisp and the multiple-dentil
occurrences are quite obvious. The rusted-die condition of this variety is
the most frequently seen. Dentilation fades, cracks are a bit heavier,
and the multiple-dentil occurrences are no longer apparent. Radial flow-
lines develop, the underdate is weakened but still faintly visible, and both
dies are quite notably rust-pitted, most obvious at lower right reverse and
upper left obverse. Nice examples tend to be satiny rather than mirror-
like. Strikes from lapped dies show details in lower relief, lowest curl
and curl behind head open and nearly severed, and final 9 with no trace of
an underfigure . Center dot is tiny or missing and the rust areas and die
cracks are much less apparent. Although this is the latest state, some
cracks seen on earlier strikes may not show at all on the latest strikes.
Centering is usually perfect for early strikes, and broader at bottom obverse
on strikes from rusted and/or lapped dies.
Discussion: R1 , common in all grades. 65-65-65-65-65-60. Over dozen
60's are known, and many All's. The early, prooflike strikes usually bring
a slight premium because of the faint overdate seen on them. Two Proofs
have been reported, but one of these is unverified and the other is presently
untraced. When (and if) they are subjected to scrutiny, either or both of
these may turn out to be prooflike early strikes .
Cent 1 903 Very wide date 1 81 9 N-1 0 (1 0-H)
States
Obverse 3: Stars 3, 4, 7, 10 point between dentils, and star 8 nearly does.
Inner circle joins dentil tips, broken only under 18, but plainest on left
side. Sixth star points at coronet tip. x Date has small figures and is very
widely spaced, with 81 slightly closer, and all figures leaning a bit right.
The first 1 is far from the bust as on all to follow. The small date-figures
are a different style from earlier cents, with a more squared appearance,
probably from the same punch-set soon to produce the "Century" reverse
letters . Lowest curl extends to the right edge of the second 1 . Letters of
LIBERTY are fairly even. Tiny center dot before ear.
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Reverse C: Leaves SRC, PR, PC, NC+. There is a triplet dentil at bottom
center. The letters are the old square-serif type, and the right bases of
all I’s and T's are hand-patched. In STATES, the top of E is notably
lower than that of adjacent T. Small, indistinct center dot.
Striking variations: All seen have a light crack from the right side of 9 join-
ing inner points of the last four stars. Dentilation fades, but does not
disappear. Latest strikes show evidence of reverse lapping.
Discussion: R3+, scarce but not rare. 70-65-65-65-60-60. Two more 60's,
at least four AU’s and a half-dozen XF's are known to me . One of the
60’s was once catalogued as "proof reverse". This variety is tied for
third-scarcest 1819, and commands a slight premium as such among
variety collectors — occasionally up to 25% or so, though usually less.
Cent 1904
Wide date 18 19 N-9 (9-G)
Doubled R
1904
(N-9)
Obverse 4: Stars 3, 8 point between dentils, star 5 nearly does. Traces of
an inner circle appear under the tips of the dentils, slightly more apparent
at left . S ixth star points to coronet tip . Lowest curl ends high over
second 1 . Date is widely spaced, with 81 slightly wider . IB of LIBERTY
are delicately recut at top. Heavy markings appear behind LIB, the most
prominent being a "half-football" from left side of I and two vertical lines
up from adjacent feet of IB.
Reverse D: Leaves C+, NR, SPC, NC . There is a triplet dentil over E of
STATES, and the leaves are very close under the legend. The right feet
of all I's and T’s are manually patched, this being another die prepared
from the old square-serif letter punches. The R in AMERICA is con-
spicuously doubled above, and the final S of STATES is low. C of CENT
leans right. Tiny, indistinct center dot.
Striking variations: Early strikes show a graver scratch joining the feet of
TA. Some pieces show heavy clashmarks on the left obverse. The die
- 273 -
was then lapped to remove these marks, and allowed to wear normally.
The lapping removed the TA line and weakened the doubled R. As the
dies wear, the dentilation fades completely and the doubling on the R be-
comes even less distinct. No cracks seen.
Discussion: R1 , common in all grades, especially near MS . 70-65-65-65-65-
65. Over a dozen 65’s have been traced, as well as hundreds of 60's.
This variety is a minor adjunct (hundreds, not thousands) to the Randall
Hoard, both early and late strikes being quite common in Mint State.
The type -collector will prefer the more common cent 1905, which usually
displays more delicate detail. At least three, possibly four. Proof
examples of Cent 1 904 are known .
Cent 1 905 Close date with stars away N-8 (8-F)
Berry centered under A
Obverse 5: Stars 2, 5, 8 point between dentils, stars 9, 13 nearly do. Sixth
star points at coronet tip. There is an inner circle under the dentils.
The left edge of lowest curl is right of right edge of the second 1 . The
date is small and moderately spaced, with first 1 far from the bust.
Reverse E: Leaves PC, PR, SPC, C. Berries are even tinier than on the pre-
ceeding dies, and the lettering is different. This is the first Century
reverse (see discussion, 1819). Foot of T is below I in UNITED, ME
and RI feet are quite close, others more apart. Final A is nearer to stem
than to C . Very similar to reverse F, but this has tiny berries and a
berry centered under the first A of AMERICA, while reverse F has large
berries and the A-berry is notably right of center. E of ONE is low.
Tiny center dot has been crudely effaced, appearing as a few light chips.
Striking variations: Early strikes show faint scratches joining the bases of
TE in UNITED and AT in STATES. Other examples from lightly lapped
dies do not show these marks. The dentils fade as the dies wear.
Discussion: R1-, extremely common, especially in MS . 70-70-70-70-70-70.
Probably other 70 "s, many dozens of 65's, and thousands in the 60-65
range are available. This variety probably comprised the bulk of a keg
from the Randall Hoard. It is generally found sharply struck, crisply
detailed, and often prooflike. This makes it a superior type-collector's
coin — a fact that has driven the price of these hoard examples far beyond
any reasonable range. Two "Proofs" of this variety appeared in the
Mougey sale (1910), but have since dropped from sight. Since these are
unverified, and since this variety often comes prooflike, it is likely that
no true Proofs of Cent 1 905 exist .
- 274 -
Cent 1 906
Close date with stars away
N-7 (7-D)
Gross berries, rusted die
Obverse 5: Same obverse as Cent 1905 (N-8) — later, with dentils blurred
or absent.
Reverse F : Leaves C, R, C, C. UNITED. Bases of TE in STATES are
joined, and final S is low. Century letters, and the new letter-set has
suffered its first casualty — all A’s have their outside right foot patched.
All berries are oversized as on the first 1820 dies. A berry is centered
under the right feet of the first A in AMERICA. Center dot effaced,
leaving a faint irregular lump in its place. Similar to reverse E but for
the oversized berries and the A-berry position.
Striking variations; Obverse die is worn, generally with no dentilation. Re-
verse die is new and sharp, but is extensively rusted, with raised pit-
marks scattered over its entirety. To date, all purported "unrusted
reverse" 1906's have turned out to be the common 1905. This die and
those of cent 1 902 probably suffered the same ill-storage together, and the
‘cure' was the same. The last-struck 1906’s are heavily lapped, severely
weakening all reverse details.
Discussion; R5, rare, but not excessively so. 60-60-55-50-45-40. Besides
these, an unverified "60" appeared in a 1945 Mehl sale, since untraced
and unverified . At least seven more are known in the 20-30 range , and
several lower. This is the rarest 1819, and almost always commands a
premium — usually around 1 .5x to 2x, rarely more. Several purported
Cent 1906's have been exposed as 1905’s in years past, but that seems to
be the way of things — as soon as something is called "rare", everybody
has one (or more). If these fail the test, the "rare" label sticks; if
enough of them pass, the label falls by the wayside, only to be revived
years later by some ignorant or unscrupulous dealer who wants to squeeze
some extra bucks from a now-common variety.
Cent 1 907 Stars close to date N-4 (4 D)
Gross berries, lapped die
Obverse 6; Star 13 points between dentils, stars 7, 9 nearly do. Inner circle
at dentil tips from K1 1 extends clocha/vise to K6. Sixth star points slightly
left of coronet tip. Date is small and quite close with stars very close to
it. The tops of 81 nearly touch. Lowest curl extends past left upright of
second 1 . Star 10 is recut below its lowest point. A long graver scratch
extends through both feet of Y .
Reverse F: Same as Cent 1906 (N-7), now worn and heavily lapped. Dentilation
is blurred, letters fainter.
- 275 -
Striking variations: This variety is usually evenly struck and well centered.
The heavily-lapped reverse is a constant feature.
Discussion: R4+, scarce in all grades, tougher in high grade. 60-50-50-45-
45-45. In addition, an unverified "MS" has been reported and unverified
"AU" was offered in a 1972 French's auction, which may modify this list.
Besides these, at least one more XF and three dozen in the 20-35 range
are known to me. The most commonly-seen grade of Cent 1907 is VG.
As a scarce variety of a distinctive type (close stars). Cent 1907 com-
mands about the same 1 ,5x-2x premium as the slightly scarcer Cent 1906.
Cent 1908
Stars close to date
Highest leaftip far past S
N-3 (3-C)
Obverse 6: Same obverse as Cent 1907 (N-4), later. Edge is noticeably
dished, dentilation fading, with star points drawn to the rim. Recutting
on star 10 does not show.
Reverse G: Leaves NR, FPR, PC, C. UNITED has T below I, and E top
joined to T . STATES has TE bases lightly connected . Right feet of at
least the first and last A's are patched. Berries are small, but not as
tiny as on Cent 1905 (N-8). C of CENT leans right. Tiny, nearly invisible
center dot.
Striking variations: Reverse: dentilation is usually broadest and clearest at
lower left. Obverse dentilation fades and disappears. This variety
occasionally shows a faint crack from the rim left of date to bust.
Discussion: R3+. Scarce in all grades. 60-50-50-45-45-45. At least three
more XF's are known, and at least one of the XF's has been catalogued as
"Unc". Although about a rarity-number below Cent 1907, this variety is
still scarce and is still the same distinctive close-star type as Cent 1 907 .
As a result, collectors usually find it more "interesting" than several
others and will generally part with a few more hard-earned shekels for it
if they have to — say around 20-30% more .
Cent 1 909 Close date with stars away N-5 (5-C)
Highest leaftip for past S
Obverse 7: Star 11 points be:tween dentils, star 7 nearly does. There is a
double dentil at K7 and an inner circle at dentil-tips from K9 clockwise to
K5. Sixth star points left of coronet. Date is close with stars for away
from it. The lowest curl extends about to the left upright of the second 1 .
In LIBERTY, I is high, .and the tops of I and Y are recut.
Reverse G: Same as Cent 1 908 (N-3), later. Dentilation is much weakened,
nearly absent. Graver scratches connecting both TE's no longer show.
- 276 -
though the first E still has an overlong top left point. Center dot has now
disappeared .
Striking variations: Obverse dentilation remains crisp, reverse fades until
dentilation is merely a raised rim and letters are weaker, notably in the
center.
Discussion: R3, moderately scarce in all grades. 60—60—60—55—55—50. At
least six XF's are known to me — but just you try to find one! This variety
has long been considered fairly common — by default, R1 . After a few
years of looking I felt R2 fit it better . Another decade passed , and R3
seems closer. I’ve seen too many to rate it much if any higher than R3,
but this one does present a bit of a challenge. Maybe few if any have
historically attached any premium to this variety, but until I found a decent
one I would gladly have paid a 20-30% premium for a nice Cent 1909.
Cent 1910 Close date with stars away N-6 (6-E)
Square-serif reverse (as on wide dates)
Obverse 7: Same obverse as Cent 1909 (N-5), later, with dentilation slightly
less distinct but still strong. Inner circle no longer shows, but the
doubled dentil at K7 is still apparent. This marriage is generally found
with dentils a bit broader to the right and below.
Reverse H: Leaves PC, PC-, SPC, NR. The leaves are quite close below all
letters. IT feet are even, final S is low, and AME nearly touch. E in
ONE is a bit low. This last die of the year resurrects the old square-
serif letters . In fact, though used last, it was undoubtedly made before
any other 1819 reverse, as all I and T-punches are perfect (unbroken).
This is the only small, close date variety to mate with a square-serif
reverse .
Striking variations: Obverse is usually found boldest at right, reverse at
bottom. Inner circle no longer shows on obverse. Dentilation fades
slightly on both sides, and reverse begins to buckle at left center, weaken-
ing O and C .
Discussion: R1 , common in all but choice grades. 65-65-60-60-60-60. Three
more 60’s, at least four AU's, and over a dozen XF's are known. Fines or
VF's are not difficult to find. Though this "reversion", or "out of the
woodwork" die certainly carries its interest on its face (or on its tail in
this case), the interest is unapparent to the non-specialist . With no pleban
"raison d'etre" and with a sufficient supply for the specialist. Cent 1910
is rarely able to coax even an extra nickel from a prospective buyer.
(To be continued)
- 277 -
- 278 -
The following grading standards for the Late Date large cents were sub-
mitted by Del Bland to the ANA Grading Board for its consideration and
approval. They are reprinted here for your information.
GRADING STANDARDS OF U.S. LA»TE DATE LARGE CENTS
Del Bland
Coronet type 1 81 6-1 839
Numerical Adjectival
grade
description
1
Poor or
Basal State
Only a portion of the date and legend is visible.
In nearly all cases , the coin cannot be
identified as to variety.
2
Fair
About half of the date and the legend can be
made out. Occasionally, the coin can be
identified as to variety.
3
Very Fair or
About Good
The date will be clear and nearly all of the legend
can be made out, even though the coin as a whole
may be worn fairly smooth. Usually, the
variety can be identified.
4
Good
The date as well as all of the legend will be clear,
The general relief of the coin will be well worn.
In LIBERTY, a portion of LIBE will be worn
away.
5
Good
All letters in LIBERTY will be clear; the
coronet line above IBE weak.
6
Good or About
Very Good
The letters in LIBERTY plainly seen; the
coronet line above B weak.
7
Very Good
The date, stars, legend, and LIBERTY must be
plain . About one-half of the back hair cord will
show.
8
Very Good
More than half of the back hair cord will show,
in some cases its inner line being only faintly
visible .
10
Very Good or
About Fine
The back hair cord will be clear; about half of
the inner hair cord will show .
12
Fine
Both hair cords will be complete, although the
inner one will exhibit some weakness . There
will be some detail in the hair lines.
- 279 -
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
Fine or About
Very Fine
Both hair cords will be complete , with con-
siderable detail in the hair above the coronet
line .
Very Fine
Both hair cords will stand out although they will
be worn . Considerable detail will be visible
above the coronet line and between the hair
cords .
Very Fine
Both hair cords lightly worn but sharp. Hair
detail above coronet line will be visible except
over ER . About half the detail of the hair lines
between the hair cords will show.
Very Fine
Nearly all of the curl in front of the ear will be
visible . There will be considerable detail in the
hair around the ear, and only the highest points
of the hair above the coronet line will show wear.
Very Fine or
Nearly Ex-
tremely Fine
The curl in front of the ear will show but will be
weak. Only the slightest wear will show in the
hair above the coronet line . The hair detail
above the eye will not show .
Extremely
Fine
Both hair cords are sharp. Only slight wear is
seen over the high points of the coin . The curl
in front of the ear will be fairly sharp and some
detail will show in the hair above the eye .
Extremely
Fine
Tine curl in front of the ear is sharp. The hair
above the eye is slightly worn . Nearly all of the
hair detail is visible.
Almost
Uncirculated
All detail is complete except for the slightest
wear on part of the curl in front of the ear and
on the hair above the eye .
Almost
Uncirculated
Full mint state sharpness except for a trace of
wear on the hair above the eye. Some leaves
on the reverse may show evidence of friction.
Mint State
Free from any trace of wear. The color should
bes that of a copper coin varying from olive brown
to light brown . A trace of mint red may be visible .
Mint State
Approximately half the coin is mint red or a
combination of colors faded from mint red but
still showing original mint color.
Mint State
Full mint red, allowing only for the very slightest
mellowing of color.
- 280 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
10
12
15
20
25
Braided Hair Type 1840-1857
Poor or
Basal State
Only a portion of the date and legend is visible .
The coin cannot be identified as to variety.
Fair
About half of the date and the legend can be
made out, but the variety cannot be identified.
Very Fair or
About Good
The date and nearly all of the legend will be
visible. The coin will be worn fairly smooth.
Occasionally, the variety can be identified .
Good
The date and legend will be clear . The general
relief of the coin will be well worn. About half
of LIBERTY will show.
Good
Date and lettering clear. More than half of
LIBERTY will show. Some of the beading in
the hair cords can be made out .
Good or About
Very Good
Only the tops of the letters in LIBERTY will be
worn . About half of the beading in the hair
cords will show.
Very Good
The tops of LIBERT will be worn. All the bead-
ing in the hair cords will show, although they
will be worn.
Very Good
LIBE will be worn at the tops of the letters .
Some hair detail above the coronet line will be
visible, but those hair lines at the top of the
head will be worn smooth.
Very Good or
About Fine
Tops of LIB slightly worn . About half the hair
detail above the coronet line will show.
Fine
Top of L slightly worn . Hair on top of the head
will be worn smooth. Over half of the ear is
visible.
Fine or About
Very Fine
LIBERTY is sharp, but the top of the coronet line
is worn. Hair on top of the head will be worn,
but most lines will be visible .
Very Fine
Some detail in the hair around the ear will show .
Almost all hair lines on top of the head are
visible , The hair braid above the eye will show
but will be worn .
Very Fine
Only part of the top two hair lines will not be
visible. The top of the ear and the hair above
it will be worn smooth.
- 281 -
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
Very Fine
Very Fine or
Nearly Ex-
tremely Fine
Extremely
Fine
Extremely
Fine
Almost
Uncirculated
Almost
Uncirculated
Mint State
Mint State
Mint State
All hair lines on top of the head will be visible,
a few being weak. The hair above the ear will
be worn smooth only on the highest point.
Top hair lines only lightly worn. The hair
above the ear will show slight detail but will be
worn . The hair braid above the eye will be
worn but will be plainly visible .
All hair lines on top of the head will be well
defined and show only slight friction. The hair
curl over the shoulder will be visible but worn .
Most detail in the hair above the ear will show
but will not be sharp.
All hair lines around the ear will be detailed
but worn . Slight wear will be evident on the
hair braid above the eye and on the curl over
the shoulder.
All detail is complete except for the slightest
wear on the hair above the ear and on the eye-
brow.
Full mint state sharpness except for a trace of
wear on the hair above the ear . Some leaves
on the reverse may show evidence of friction
Free from any trace of wear. The color should
be that of a copper coin varying from olive brown
to light brown. A trace of mint red may be
visible .
Approximately half the coin will be mint red or
a combination of colors faded from mint red but
still showing original mint color.
Full mint red, allowing only for the very slightest
mellowing of color.
Note: The foregoing descriptions are based on the assumption that the coins do
not show defects which modify the condition. The proper way to grade a coin
is to grade it as if there were no defects and then to describe the defects
separately. Also, some varieties come weakly struck, even in Mint State.
The dealer and the collector must become familiar with these varieties and
grade them accordingly.
a *************
Addendum by Editor: Del Bland advises us that the above grading standards
were submitted to the ANA Grading Board and were well received. The Board
has asked that Del do a similar report for the reverses. He is preparing such
a standard at the present time . However, it will not be completed by the time
that PENNY-WISE must go to press . We hope that it will be available for
publication in the next issue of P-W.
B . . ... 4 ^ ±
- 282 -
NEW MEMBERS
536 Christopher Fallo, 693 Elite Court, Ridgefield, NJ 07657
537 PhilH. Botkiss, 10210 Carroll Place, Kensington, MD 20795
538 George Bayer, 1 50 Raven hurst Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10310
539 Thomas P. Maehl, 4130 S. Spring Glen, Salt Lake City, UT 84119
540 Frank Whitesell, P.O. Box 5197, Hattiesburg, MS 39401
541 Charles B. Alboth, 4231 N. 27th Street, #2, Phoenix, AZ 85016
542 Daniel A. Demeo, 2434 Purdue Ave. , #7, Los Angeles, CA 90064
543 Cam Jancek, 656 Live Oak Drive, El Cajon, CA 92020
544 David Johnston, 1322 Richmond, El Corrito, CA 94530
545 Greg Germain , .5290 Prosperity Lane , San Diego , CA 921 1 5
546 G. M. Dzara, P.O. Box 124, Perryopolis, PA 15473
547 Willard R. Mumford, 3086-B Concord Street, HillAFB, UT 84406
548 Al Philips, 371 -A Reno Road, APO San Francisco, CA 96438
549 Warren Farr, P.O. Box 1537, Paducah, KY 42001
550 Jere A. Johnston, 1700 N. Hughes, #2, Little Rock, AR 72207
551 Joseph G. Stuller, 350 Kenzel Court, Merritt Island, FL 32952
*************
THE NATIVES ARE RESTLESS - Changes of Address:
Lt. Col. Mahrlon R. Bright, 762 Westover Circle, Whiteman AFB , Mo. 65305
Aron Roberts, P.O. Box 4738, Thousand Oaks, CA 91359
Del Bland, 2864 Sugar Pine Court, San Jose, CA 95121
D. W. Whitley, 610 - 4th Avenue N.E., Conover, N.C. 28613
R. W. Fellows, 1600 West 20th Street, San Pedro, CA 90732
Ronald E. Janowsky, 58 Peral Street, New Hartford, NY 13413
*************
JON HANSON Box 5499, Beverly Hills, California 90210 or c/o New
Netherlands Coin Co., Inc., 1 West 47th Street, NYC, NY 10036
FOR SALE - SPECIAL COTTON-LINED ENVELOPES
These envelopes fit perfectly inside 2x2 standard coin envelopes .
$45. per thousand; $7.50 per hundred. All postpaid.
*************
- 283 -
MORE ABOUT THE TALBOT ALLUM & LEE CENTS
One of EAC's avid and well-informed Colonial collectors is T. D. Howe.
Shortly after your Editor's article on the Talbot Allum & Lee cents appeared
in the last issue of PENNY-WISE, Mr. Howe very kindly furnished me with
additional information regarding other sales and the prices realized. His
information follows, verbatim:
"There have been several other Talbot Allum & Lee cents auctioned for
which you apparently had no catalogues:
1 794 No number
Merkin
10/73
AU/XF
$110.
Superior
8/75
MS60
550.
Fuld 1
French
Late '73
VF
1 85.
Superior
2/74
AU
2200.
Fuld 2
New Netherlands
4/72
XF
36.
Merkin
9/74
XF
150.
Stack's
3/75
Unc.
300.
Fuld 3
Stack's
3/73
Unc.
160.
Pine Tree
2/75
F
110.
Fuld 4
Stack's 2
5/74
Proof
2300.
Stack's
11/74
BU, prf-like
2000.
Stack's
3/75
Gem
700.
1795
I have records of 28 auction sales from 1967 through March, 1975, of
which exactly half were described as Uncirculated . One mint red and olive
sold for $700 . and another olive with some red sold for $685 . , both from the
Pine T ree sale for April , 1 974 . Pine T ree had another in Feburary, 1 975
at $400., and Stack's one in March, 1975 at $550. These prices are sub-
stantially above anything of which I have record prior to 1972, all but two of
the uncirculated being under $100.
Of the mules , I have kept no record since 1 971 , and then only of
FM-3A because of the name, viz. 'Earl Howe & Glorious 1st of June'. I pur-
chased this piece in 1967 from Paramount - allegedly XF - for $35, since
valued by Dick Picker at $10. From Dick, I purchased both my 1794 Fuld 3
which I consider XF+ and my 1795 Fuld 1 which is a superb brilliant red
Uncirculated .
I could use a 1 794 TAL without New York if you know of one . "
Interestingly enough, just about the time this letter was received, COIN
WORLD carried an ad from Douglas Weaver in Cleburn, Texas who offered a
1794 TAL without New York, in EF, for $3600. The advertisement noted that
less than 1 2 of this variety are known to be extant . Anyone interested?
3fC3|C3)C3fC3iC3tCSte3|c4c4C3|C3iC3|C
- 284 -
THE COINAGE OF WILLIAM WOOD
Douglas Winter
Very little is known about the personal life of William Wood, although we
are familiar with Wood's association with numismatics and the legacy he left
through it. Woods was bom on July 31 , 1671 at Deanery, Wolverhampton,
in England. Prior to his numismatic ventures. Wood seems to have been
reasonably wealthy. Most of this wealth can be attributed to his interests in
copper and iron mines located in western England. In 1722, Wood purchased
through his good friend, the Duchess of Kendall, a patent for coining copper
money for Ireland. The patent cost Wood 10,000 Pounds, and it was to last
for a fourteen-year period . This patent was "for the sole privilege of coining
halfpence and farthings for Ireland, of which the total weight was not to exceed
three hundred and sixty tons - thirty pence for every one pound avoirdupois".
0 )
With the patent. Wood was required also to pay another 1 ,000 Pounds
annually to the King and the Clerk Comptroller. The patent was unanimously
approved on or about July 22, 1722 by the House of Commons. Unfortunately
for Wood, this investment turned out to be one of high cost and little return.
In fourteen years. Wood's profit was approximately 9,500 Pounds - a mere
pittance compared to the labor involved . (2)
The initial mintage of Wood's Hibernia (Irish) coinage began in January,
1723 at the Phoenix Street Mint. The finished planchets, dated 1722, were
delivered by wagon to Bristol, from where they were shipped to various towns
in Ireland. The dies were engraved by the firm of Lammos, Harold, &
Standbrooke, of London.
The coins, dated 1722, were not held in fas/or by the Irish, nor were the
subsequent issues, although the coins were of a quality far superior to any
other pieces circulating in Ireland at the time . The reasons for their un-
popularity seem to have centered around the secrecy of the actual issuance and
distribution - the Irish were never consulted about the coins, and their inter-
ests were generally ignored by Wood . Dr. Jonathan Swift, who authored the
famous book GULLIVER'S TRAVELS, blasted the coins in the DRAPER'S
LETTERS of 1723, which further increased their unpopularity in Ireland.
Much of the mintage was sent to the colonies, where they gained a wider
circulation. In 1 724, Wood agreed to reduce the amount of this issue and to
increase its quality; but, despite this step in the right direction, the coins
still remained unpopular. Sir Isaac Newton defended the coinage by saying:
"(they) are a very admirable coin, vastly superior to any previous Irish
coinage". (3)
William Wood's Hibernia coinage is really superior in overall appearance
to most issues of the Colonial series . Generally, it appears to be executed
in higher relief than most Colonial issues. Regular issues were struck on
copper planchets. Some pieces exist in silver, possibly struck as presentation
pieces .
- 285 -
Wood also obtained a patent in 1 722 to issue coins for the North
American colonists for a fourteen-year p>eriod. For this privilege. Wood was
required to pay 300 Pounds per year to the Crown. These pieces were struck
on Bath-metal planchets which consisted of 75 per cent copper, 24.7 per cent
zinc, and 0.3 per cent tin.
This particular series is commonly called the "Rosa Americana" due to
its obverse legend which bears the same name. These coins were issued
from 1722 until 1724, and they were struck at the French Change, in Bristol.
The planchets were heated before being struck, this being the reason why
many of the surviving examples appear to be blistered .
The Rosa Americana coins were immensely unpopular in New England.
In the Pine Tree Auction sale for April 28-30, 1975, Walter Breen describes
the issue's failure by writing: "(a round penny in parchment was printed in
1 722 to replace the unpopular issue) .... authorized by the General Court's
Act of May 30, 1 722 as a means of preventing the circulation of William
Wood's new Rosa Americana coins. There must have been storms of laughter
at Mr. Wood's expense when it became known that the New Englanders pre-
ferred parchment pence to his Bath-metal coins . "
William Wood surrendered his Irish patent in 1725 in exchange for another
patent. He died, nearly penniless, in London on August 2, 1730.
REFERENCES TO FOOTNOTES
(1) Nelson, Philip THE COINAGE
England . W . C . Weight 1 903
(2) Nelson, page 14.
(3) Nelson, page 15. . .
OF WILLIAM WOOD,
page 1 0 .
jit*******
1 722-1 733
Brighton,
SPECIAL OFFER TO EAC MEMBERS
Over the years we have been friends with many if not most EAC club
members . Perhaps you are already acquainted with our "Rare Coin Review"
(issued several times a yecir), our "special Coin Letter" (issued about ten
times a year), and the auction catalogues produced by our division, the
American Auction Association, Inc. If not, we would like to make this special
offer to you: We will send you without charge or obligation of any kind our
latest large illustrated catalogue. Each issue contains many different United
States colonial coins, half cents, large cents, and other interesting pieces.
To receive your copy simply write "Send me a free copy of your latest
catalogue per your special EAC offer " on a note or postcard and send it to us .
Your catalogue will be sent: by return mail!
We are always interested in the acquisition, either for purchase or for
sale at auction, of choice and desirable early United States coins. When you
think of selling your collection consider us.
Bowers and Ruddy Galleries, Inc.; 6922 Hollywood Blvd . , Hollywood, CA 90028
*************
- 286 -
AN EDITORIAL:
ED KUCIA SAYS HIS "TWO CENTS WORTH" -
"At this point in the great grading debate, I would like to cast my opinions
into the cauldron.
First, I do not believe that the proposed ANA Grading Board is a work-
able idea. I have always viewed grading as an art rather than a science. The
criteria for grading can be set down into only so many words , photographs ,
and drawings until a point is reached where human judgment prevails . Con-
ceivably, five different persons could grade one coin at as many different
levels. Witness: in the September 15, 1975 issue of P-W, Del Bland
commented on the recent ANA Convention, as follows: 'Three 1796 G-1 ’s
were available, one EF, one VF, and another by Paramount graded VF which,
in my judgment, was actually only VG10'. That's only a ten-point (minimum)
difference of opinion!
Second, I truly believe that overgrading would be less a problem if
collectors themselves would not promote and perpetuate the demon. I have
a few remedies for the over grading problem which are by no means new or
original, but which could work if given the effort: (1) Be a numismatist!
Know your coins! I'd be willing to wager that, proportionally, fewer EACers
get strung by overgraded material in comparison to the rest of the general
coin-collecting population. (2) If you want correctly graded material, be
prepared to pay for it. (3) Know your dealer. This certainly isn't imperative,
but it helps. It's still far better to know the coins.
The third point which I would like to make concerns not only the early
coppers, but coins in every series. It really sets my teeth on edge to hear a
few prominent numismatists say that points should be taken off the grade of a
piece which is not fully struck. I subscribe to Dr. Sheldon's criterion for
MS70, which states that the piece will be exactly as it was when it left the
dies - except, perhaps, for a slight mellowing of color. Therefore, let us
say that an Indian Head (or Buffalo) type nickel is devoid of any bagmarks,
abrasions, injuries, or discolorations, but is poorly struck. It is still MS70,
and I feel that it is pure nonsense to call it otherwise. The coin may be worth
less, however, than one which is fully struck. I suppose that struck-through
coins (i.e. pieces which were struck through hair, lint, wire, etc.) also should
be eligible for a MS70 rating if they are exactly as they were when struck.
Finally, as an aid to grading, I feel that photographs are far superior to
line drawings. Details on coins are composed of contours (in cross section),
and line drawings cannot define them properly as photographs can .
Thank you for letting me express my views."
Quite often additional explanations do help to confuse the issue better.
THE RAT FINK
- 287 -
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
1 . Recent back issues of PENNY-WISE may still be purchased at $1 .50 per
issue, $9. for the entire year. Write to Dr. Lapp for specific issues. This
offer will be withdrawn after December 31 .
2. Cumulative Index to Volumes I -VI I of PENNY-WISE are still available
at $2.50 each. There are 15 copies left. Order from John Wright.
3. Original printings of the 1 81 6, 1 81 7, 1 81 8, series of articles from
PENNY-WISE may be obtained from John Wright. Price is $1 . for each
mintage year. There are from 10 to 40 copies available for the years
mentioned .
4. A day for fun and fellowship - look for the details about the annual EAC
meeting in the next issue of P-W. Jackson Storm is Chairman.
5. The official EAC emblem on a cloisonned brass and marble paperweight
will be first shown and made available at the EAC meeting in March, 1976.
At the meeting, they will be available for instant delivery at $4. After the
meeting, the remainder of our 120 pieces will be available by mail order at
$5. each, postpaid.
6. Checks for any of the above or for advertisements or dues should be
drawn to EARLY AMERICAN COPPERS, INC.
"On a recent trip to London, I visited the British Museum and went over
their collection of large cents and half cents. With the exception of the
pieces reported below, plus some Late Date uncirculated cents, they do not
have anything to rave about. One common coin was even holed. The best
of the early coins were given to the Museum in 1858.
Those that I considered the best were as follows:
As for the half cents, I did not have my Gilbert book with me, and the
Museum did not have any book on half cents. Other than some late dates,
the only choice pieces were:
JOHN E. BOREK REPORTS
1793 S-2
S-9
S-llc
1794 S-24
1812 S-290
EF40
MS 65
VF20
AU50
MS65
1 793
1 794 G-2 or 6
EF45
MS65"
*************
- 288 -
PEN(NY)MANSHIP TO THE EDITORS
From MIKE GRIFFITH: "I thought you and EAC might like to know that I am
now employed with World-Wide Coin Company (2970 Peachtree Rd. NW,
Suite 430, Atlanta, Georgia, 30305). One of my tasks will be to write articles
for various publications with the Company. Since there has been a long
dearth of articles from me for PENNY-WISE, I am looking forward now to the
opportunity of having time to write. I am hoping to be able to devote a good
deal of my time to the coppers . Any articles which I might be able to pen and
which would be of some interest to EACers, I will send to you. Hopefully,
the articles will be of some value .
In the future, I would also like to get a mailing list from you of EAC mem-
bers . World-Wide puts out a catalogue every month and some of the coins
may be of interest to the members. At present, our offering of coppers is
quite low, but we hope to remedy that. I plan to list the Early dates by Sheldon
numbers and the half cents by Cohen numbers. In the past, this had not been
done. I hope to find some real charmers in the coppers in stock. I must say
that two of the Early Dates we have really impressed me . One is a beautiful
1 794 S-21 in AU. I can see why Dr. Sheldon calls it one of the most
beautiful coppers ever minted. While supposedly common, it still remains to
me a fantastic piece.
I also remain still quite impressed with the issues of P-W. I might add
that I do not like the idea of dividing the issues to the point of having separate
publications for the half cents and Colonials . I feel that we all are interested
in these coins in varying degrees and like to read a little about all aspects. If
we are concerned about space, I feel that there are some other things in the
issues which might be curtailed. I am just afraid that fragmentation of inter-
ests may cause too much weakness in the area of those few people who now
write for P-W. They are a small band of dedicated writers; and if they are
left to go two or three different directions, they could cause much weakening of
a new superb publication."
From ARON ROBERTS: "First, I'd like to thank all those EAC members who
made me feel welcome at the Regional Meeting held on June 6 at the Oliphants'
house in Van Nuys, California. I have never before enjoyed being with a group
of people any more than I did that night. I believe that our Southern Californian
region has to be one of the most friendly, enthusiastic, and active groups of
EAC members anywhere, and I am humbly grateful to be a part of it.
Second, I admit that I am guilty of grading a Classic Head large cent at
Good-4 which others at the meeting graded up to Fine-15! The coin just had
to be a 4!
Third, Denis Loring, Walter Breen, and other already legendary persons
were as impressive at the EAC gathering at ANA as they had seemed through
the numismatic mass media, which was somewhat surprising and very pleasing.
And fourth, I have volunteered to serve on the Board of Contributing
Editors of THE YOUNG NUMISMATIST. The first article (about large cents,
of course) should arrive at Co-Editor Paul Kelley's desk in New Hampshire in
time to appear in the Fall edition. Owners of lot 441 (S— 103) and lot 446
(S-107) in the Ruby I sale, lot 56 (S-60) and lot 59 (S-63) in the Ruby I II sale,
and lot 613 (S-24) and lot 614 (S-26) in the Pine Tree-EAC auction may
- 289 -
possibly see their cents illustrated in the article from prints of Xerox copies
of catalogue plates! EAC now even has a ’connection' with the Young
Numismatists! "
From HOWARD E. BAKER: "I was attracted to EAC because I thought the
name of the society reflected interest in all early coppers, including Colonials.
I feel that this reaction may have occurred to most new members.
I do not think that breaking up the organization into special interest groups
would accomplish anything constructive. In my case, I was primarily inter-
ested in Colonials, especially Washington pieces, and in large cents. Since
joining EAC and reading P-W, I have developed an interest in half cents. I
am sure that there must be many others who have expanded their collecting
interests since joining EAC .
There is one advantage to keeping the Society complete, just as it is now.
I might spot an item which you or someone else is interested in, and I could
let you or the other party know the item's location. With five hundred members,
it would be like having a thousand eyes instead of just two to do the looking."
From CHUCK HECK: "I recently purchased a complete set of P-W from Rod
Burress; and in reading through Volume I, No. 3, I see that way back even
then the problem of whether or not to branch out into Colonials and half cents
was being debated.
If subsections are to exist, then I feel that they should do so as completely
separate entities. Within one major club, there could be three different
sections to which any member might subscribe. Membership in any one would
make him a member of EAC . Dues should be collected on the basis of the
number of subsections joined inasmuch as each should issue its own publication.
I'm sure that separate publications would provide maximum interest, as
nothing is more irritating than to receive a copy filled with articles out of
your field .
Believe me, I'm not essentially a purist. I do enjoy collecting many
different types of U.S. coins. Colonials have been a favorite of mine for 15
years, although I'm only a novice in large cents. But I feel strongly that P-W
should continue to cater only to large cents, and that any attempt to create
subsections should be done in the same manner as P-W and EAC started, back
in the 60's .
Another point needs to be made clear. Do we really need a Colonial sub-
section? J. C. Spilman and THE COLONIAL NEWSLETTER have provided
an excellent means for the collector of Colonial pieces . Any new effort should
not be viewed as a rivalry but as a cooperative attempt; but even then, much
of the information would most likely be a duplication of the TCN's. Colonial
coin collecting is such a broad area, that I feel any interested EAC member
would do well to join Mr. Spilman's group."
From HERB SILBERMAN: "To keep you up-to-date with the wild, wild
world of big pennies — in following up a bit of gossip, from Morristown, N.J.
to Springfield, Mass, to Northfield, Mass, (up against the Vermont-New
Hampshire border - all about a good-looking bunch of large cents, I found
and confirmed a very nice NCI of 1 796 in FI 5 - it was in the possession of
Phil Mann, one of our new members. It was a pleasant trip, nice country,
and very nice people; but, so far as my bad side is concerned (avarice), it
- 290 -
meant no addition to my collection.
Also, a strange thing happened during the discussion period at a recent
meeting of the New Jersey Numismatic Society, and it’s worth mentioning
here. Normally, when reviewing the auctions and offerings of the month,
the over-grading of the dealer is a point of importance. But this time, one
of the members pointed out the honest, fair, and conservative grading of all
coins at a specific sale; and all those who had seen the coins or who had re-
ceived coins after making successful mail bids agreed. Another member
commented on the unusualness of the conversation, so 1 want to congratulate
Mrs. Catherine Bullowa. of COINHUNTER on her unique position. I can
assure you that, through her fairness, she has gained many friends.'
From C. F. GORDON, JR.: "Don't know whether or not a title for our new
Early Date targe cent book has been chosen or not, but I've come up with a
few title suggestions - who knows? - maybe you'll like one of them - Old
Copperheads, Old Cent Whist, Big Cents Make Sense, Copperhead, American
Coppers, Looking For A Star, Cherrypickers, Copper Cherrypicker , Whist
Challenge, Sage of Old Coppers, More Penny Whimsy.
I can hardly wait for the new book to appear . Loring has done such a
good job on the early cents . Would it be possible to list with the Condition
Census coins the names of the owners, or if they didn't want their names
printed, perhaps the regions where they live? Would this make too thick a
book? I don't believe that anyone has brought this up before, but such informa-
tion would be important for those of us who carry a coin's pedigree along with
its sale. So many important large cents have changed hands during the past
three years that they are becoming difficult to trace.
I also want to thank John Wright for all of his work on the late dates. I've
been using his material, which has come in most handy."
From LAWRENCE A. NILSON: "I recently presented a talk on coin grading
at a meeting of our local coin club, and I attempted to explain quantitative
grading. One of the things I mentioned was my doubt as to the very existence
of MS 65 or MS70 silver dollars. The coin hobby field has borrowed Dr.
Sheldon's grading system, but they are not following his standards.
I feel that in grading a coin (from ancients to modern) one must try to
imagine what the engraver was trying to create. By so doing, it gives me an
impression of what the piece must have looked like in Mint State. I then try
to deduct accordingly for wear, blemishes, etc. and I allow for surface and
color, after which I can come up with a grade. I mainly handle foreign coins,
and there are no grading books available such as one would have for U.S. or
Canadian coins . "
From RICHARD V. PUNCHARD: "I recently purchased all the back issues of
P-W from Rod Burress, and I highly recommend them to all 'Johnny-come-
lately's' like myself.
For some time now, I've tried to think of some way to acknowledge my
appreciation for EAC; and the thought occurred to me that my home area would
be ideal for a future annual meeting since it is almost centrally located. I
reside in Bloomington, Minnesota, a southern suburb of Minneapolis; and my
home is about five miles from the international airport. Bloomington boasts
of its numerous fine hotels, motels, and restaurants, all of which are around
and near the airport. Also, it is the home of the Minnesota vikings, and
Minneapolis Twins, and the North Stars.
- 291
If the committee was interested, I would be pleased to furnish detailed
information on accommodations, facilities , and current costs. My wife,
Lorraine, and I would be delighted to host such an event for EAC; and we
would do our utmost to see to the comforts of all those attending.
Incidentally, my family and I will be spending the Christmas and New Year
holidays this year in California. We will be flying to San Francisco, renting
a car, and then driving to San Diego along the coast highway. If anyone along
that route is interested in chatting for a few hours, please write and I’ll
respond with an itinerary.”
(Editor's note: Dick describes himself as "42 years of age; with a wife,
Lorraine; and three teenage children. For a livelihood, I'm a residential
heating and air conditioning contractor - a glorified 'tin bender', if you will”.
If any of the members wish to contact Dick for his itinerary. I'll be glad to
forward all letters to him if you are unable to find his address in P-W.)
From PHIL HORNER: "Cherrypicking is alive and well in Ohio! " (Editor's
note: P.S. Phil lives on East Cherry Street.) "While attending a coin show
in Columbus, Ohio this summer, I was able to obtain a nice, unattributed 1803
cent. Although this coin grades only a Very Fair-3, the S-264 made a nice
addition to my collection . "
From BILL RAYMOND: "About EAC - I'll be very happy to do anything I can
to help the club, from co-chairman of the half cent division to a member of
the clean-up committee after one of our meetings. However, I haven't been
able to think up a reason for dividing up our club . Certainly there are not
enough half cent specialists to have our own meetings or our own publication.
O.K. So let's leave EAC intact, but in a future issue of P-W, have a list of
all members with each name followed by a group of numbers: e.g.
Interest as Interest as Interest as
Name a collector a numismatist a Seller
LC PUSMAC J# LC PUSMAC
W.K. Raymond 100 0 0 34 33 33
LC PUSMAC
34 33 33 %
where the three percentages; under each 'interest* must add up either to 100
per cent or 0 per cent (0 in the event that you don't have that particular interest);
and where PUSMAC means pre-U.S. Mint American copper. By such a
system, it would tell the rest of us where each member stands.
So what is there for a half cent co-chairman to do? For one thing, we
could help edit any half cent articles which are submitted to P-W. I can't think
of any other function . Can you?"
From FRANK WILKINSON: "I wish that coin dealers were nearly as prompt
in filling orders as EAC members are in answering letters! "
BUYING UNITED STATES HALF CENTS AND LA^RGE CENTS
HIGHEST PRICES PAID
We have a great need for better grade Early and Late Date large
cents and half cents. Proper attributions and grading necessary. Please
bear in mind that we are dealers and that the coins are for resale. You
may ship directly to us for our offer or to our bank. Write for details
concerning the latter method.
FIRST COINVESTORS, INC.
200 I.U. Willets Road
Albertson, New York 11507
*
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- 292 -
THE SIGNIFICANT HALF CENT CATALOGUE SALES
Milton B. Pfeffer
A by-product of my Catalogue Sales series in PENNY-WISE is this list
of significant half cent sales. By "significant", I mean "having more than
ordinary interest". I do not mean to imply that these catalogues are limited
to specialized half cent collections, or rarities, or high grade coins, or
proofs, or any other particular feature in the half cent spectrum,
1 . George W. Merritt (Bangs &Co., Jan. 3, 1879, Ed. Frossard, cataloguer)
2. Thomas Cleneay (Chapman Bros . , 1890)
3. Richard B. Winsor (Chapman Bros., 1895)
4. Benjamin H. Collins cents and half cents (Ed. Frossard, March 2-3, 1897)
5. John G. Mills (Chapman Bros., 1904)
6. Harlan P. Smith sale (Chapman Bros., May, 1906)
7. Harlan P. Smith duplicate sale (Chapman Bros,, June, 19Q6)
8. Matthew Adams Stickney (H . Chapman, 1907)
9. Peter Gschwend (T. L. Elder, 1908)
10. Peter Mougey (T. L. Elder, 1910)
11 . William H. Woodin (T. L. Elder, March 2-4, 1911)
12. George H. Earle, Jr. (H. Chapman, 1912)
13. Dr. George P. French (U.S. Coin Co., 1915)
14. Henry C . Miller (T, L. Elder, 1917)
15. Dr. George P. French half cent collection (U ,S . Coin Co., Dec. 5, 1917)
16. Allison W. Jackman (H. Chapman, 1918)
17. John Story Jenks (H . Chapman, 1921)
18. Dr. Wallace Bardeen (H. Chapman, 1922)
19. F. R. Alvord (S . H . Chapman, 1924)
20. William Hesslein (Sept. 24-25, 1926)
21 . Dr. D. W. Valentine (T . L . Elder, 1927)
22. Dr. George P. French (H. Chapman, Dec. 19, 1927)
23. Comm. W. C, Eaton (H . Chapman, May 7-8, 1929)
24. Gen. Walter D. McCaw (T. L, Elder, Nov., 1930)
25. J. C. Morgenthau & Co. (April 26, 1932)
26. Dr. George P. French (Barney Bluestone, Feb. 17-18, 1933)
27. "Prominent Western Gentleman" (M . H. Bolender, Feb, 3, 1934)
28. Barney Bluestone (Jan. 13-14, 1939)
29. Barney Bluestone (April 29, 1943)
30. Belden E. Roach (B. Max Mehl, Feb. 8, 1944)
31 . Walter F. Webb (April 8, 1944)
32. Sol Kaplan (Nov. 18, 1944)
33. FrederickW. Geiss (B . Max Mehl, Feb. 18, 1947)
34. Will W. Neil (B. Max Mehl, June 17, 1947)
35. David O. Hughes (Stack’s, April 9-10, 1948)
36. Charles M. Williams (Numismatic Gallery, Nov. 14, 1950)
37. John Pawling (New Netherlands , Nov. 22, 1952)
38. Hillyer Ryder (New Netherlands, June 23, 1952)
39. Anderson-Dupong, Part II (Stack's, Nov. 11-13, 1954)
40. T. James Clarke (Numismatic Gallery, April, 1956)
41 . S. W. Freeman (Kreisberg & Schulman, May, 1958)
42. Milton A. Holmes (Stack's, Oct. 5-8, 1960)
43. New Netherlands 56th sale (June 27-28, 1962)
44. Joseph Brobston (Stack's FPL No. 69, 1963)
45. Lee G. Lahrman (Numismatic Gallery, Feb. 1-2, 1963)
46. New Netherlands 57th sale (Dec. 10-11, 1963)
47. Lester Me r kin (March 15, 1967)
48. New Netherlands 59th sate (1967)
49. Helfenstein-Judd (Lester Me r kin, March 6-7, 1968)
50. Lester Mer kin (Sept. 15, 1968)
51. Lester Merkin (March 28-29, 1969)
52. R. L. Miles, Jr., Part II (Stack's, April, 1969)
53 . New Netherlands 61 st sale (1 970)
54. Nate Smith (Stack's, Miarch 2-3, 1973)
55. Dr. Charles L. Ruby, Part I (Superior, Feb., 1974)
56. "Important Collection of U.S. Half Cents" (Stack's, March 15, 1975)
AMERICAN HALF CENTS
the
"Little Half Sisters"
"The standard reference on U.S. Half Cents."
PENNY-WISE 3/15/72
The interesting story of these "half sisters" of the large cent, with new
material and interpretations from data in The National Archives .
Fully illustrated with 1 92 photographs of all known varieties and the
more well-known die states.
Quick, easy and positive identification of the ninety-six known varieties.
All members of the EAC should have a copy. There are many rare
varieties that are worth from two to eight times catalogue
Regular price $15.00.
Special to EAC members (10% off) $13.50 postpaid.
Order your copy from:
Roger S. Cohen, Jr., EAC #188
4720 Montgomery Lane
Bethesda, Maryland 20014
jtcJiejicsIe**:*:*:*:****
- 294 -
HALF CENT QUIZ - DIES AND RIM BREAKS
John A . Cogan
By means of the articles and Letters to the Editors appearing in the last
few issues of PENNY-WISE, I have learned the names of many half cent
collectors belonging to EAC . With this quiz, I will let it be known that half
cents are my main addiction, too. Even though I still consider myself some-
what of a beginner in the field of half cents, I am offering a few questions
which I hope will be of interest to many half cent buffs , both new and old . I
am hoping for a good response to this quiz, and will report the results of it
and the answers to the questions in the January issue of P-W . Incidentally,
the Editor has advised me that the author of the best answers will receive
25 flannel-type coin envelopes, courtesy of Jon Hanson. Second place
winner will receive 20 envelopes, and third place gets 15. So, do your best,
and let me hear from you!
1 . During the years of half cent mintage, many different obverse and reverse
dies were used. Have you ever wondered if either the obverse or the reverse
dies wore out first? For this question, let's consider only through the year
1835 - determine whether the Mint used more obverse or more reverse dies
during those years .
2. What reverse dies were muled with more than a single year of obverse die?
Also indicate those that were used with more than two years of obverse dies.
3 . The half cent series has several "overdate" obverse dies. Name these
years. Were any of these dies used in both of the years indicated (the under-
date year and the overdate year)?
4. Gilbert's 1 91 6 book on half cents has proven to be a very complete and
thorough study on half cents . Comparatively few new discoveries have been
made since 1916. What new dies (not mulings) have been discovered since
Gilbert’s book appeared?
5. How many sub-varieties (planchet weights and edge markings) are now
known in the half cent series?
6. Questions 6 through 9 refer to obvious rim (cud) breaks. The famous
"4-star break" refers to what date of half cent?
7. "Two-star break" could refer to several dates of half cents. Name them.
8 g Are there any varieties of half cent with both obverse and reverse rim
breaks, similar to those of the 1804 large cent?
9. Let’s put all the rim breaks together. What are all dates and varieties
of half cents which have rim breaks (other than those already mentioned)?
Are there more obverse or reverse rim breaks?
10. Just for interest - what do you consider to be the most important half
cent auction or fixed price list sales? List as many as you wish.
Send your answers to John Cogan, 2884 Twin Brooks Drive NE #3,
Atlanta, Georgia, 30319 on or before December 15.
*************
- 295 -
A NOTE ON THE LATE DATE HALF CENTS
Jon D. Lusk
While studying the doubling of stars on certain "Braided Hair" half cents,
I noted what appeared to be a "dig" in the hair of an otherwise MS coin. With
a casual "That's too bad” remark to myself, I put the coin away and thought
nothing more about it. Later, while studying a different date, I encountered
the same dig!
A quick check showed that every regular issue Braided Hair half cent had
this "dig" except the 1856, which had what appeared to be remnants of the dig
that had been polished out. Since 1856 was the year that the J-176 pattern
was made, possibly the Mint took extra care with the die for that year before
striking any half cents. My pattern is identical to the regular issue. It would
be interesting to compare tide Proof-only years for the damage as well.
I have included two drawings which show the area of the observed damage .
Figure 1 shows the general area circled, while figure 2 shows the details of
the damage area, the two solid areas representing the "dig". On the 1856,
the damaged area at the lower right has been polished to the field, leaving
just a bump in the field.
Since it seems to be a dig, I would think that the damage was not done to
the hub but to the master die which made the hub. I would be interested in any
comments from EACers about the Proofs.
Figure 1
*************
Figure 2
- 296 -
HALF CENT CATALOGUE SALES: ADDENDA
Milton B. Pfeffer
1 793 G-1 , C-3
Add the following higher-grade examples to those previously listed:
Uncirculated grades ; (26) Pawling 73 (NN 39th, 1952), clipped; (27)
1 959 ANA Convention sale 402 (L. A. Young); (28) 1966 ANA Convention sale
1 375 (A . Kosoff) "flakey" .
AU grades ; (29) B. Bluestone 278 (Jan., 1939); (30) 1 956 Metropolitan
New York Numismatic Convention sale (Stack's); (31) Rarcoa 27 (May 2-3,
1959), cleaned; (32) Bowers & Ruddy, Rare Coin Review (1975).
The Kreisberg catalogue for November 27, 1972, under lot 11 , says that
four Mint State specimens are known, but I believe that there must be at
least several more .
The obverse early die state is perfect and impressions are sharp. Later
on, traces of rust appear. The reverse, having been used first to strike G-3,
is less sharp than the obverse (Forman, Taxay & Associates, December 6-7,
1974, lot 385); and is rusty even in its early G-1 use (NN 56th sale, lot 412).
In its late state, the reverse becomes even more rusted, especially in the
center (Ruby I 1 75) .
1793 G-2, C-4
Correction of typographical error: G-2 is, of course, C-4, not C-1 .
Add the following higher-grade examples;
Uncirculated grades : (25) E. H. Gardner 1109 (Stack's, February 6, 1965),
which is the Steigerwalt-Brobston-Jay specimen.
AU grades; (26) B. Bluestone 1566 (April 29, 1943); ( 27) L.S. Miller
763 (Stack's, June 10-11 , 1966); (28) 1 968 ANA Convention sale 1708 (A.
Kosoff); (29) Metropolitan N.Y. Numismatic Convention sale 1 (Stack's,
April 3-4, 1975).
This variety has a number of examples struck on striated planchets (Ruby
I 177 and NN 42nd sale 255). With reference to large cents, Denis W. Loring
wrote in P-W (January 15, 1974) that most S-17's are found on striated
planchets, indicating that they were left over from 1793 "inasmuch as the late
state S-12's and all the S-15's exhibit identical characteristics" . It would
seem, then, that (1) some G-2's were struck on flans which came from the
same rolled-copper sheets that the S-12's, S-15's, and S-1 7's came from;
and (2) this is an added confirmation that the G-2's were struck near the end of
1793.
Curiously enough, a number of specimens show stronger reverses than
- 297 -
obverses (Ryder 261; "Durham" 75; Bolender 1382, February 3, 1934), per-
haps because the obverse had first been used to strike G-1 , and even in its
early G-2 die state, it shows rust over the date. The Empire booklet mentions
a spur at the top of the 1 in 1793. I find no other comment about this and
cannot say myself whether or not it is developmental. In time, clash marks
appear (NN 56th sale 413) and the rusting continues, with patches over the
date being especially clear, and a spine atop the 7 (NN 61 st sale 111).
The early state reverse die is perfect. At some point, the R in
AMERICA is re-cut, but it is not made plain whether this happened before the
die was put to use first, or later on. The signs of the re-cutting gradually
fade with continued use of the die (NN 56th sale 413), until they disappear al-
together, and the leaves are flat.
1793 G-3, C-2
Add the following:
Uncirculated grades ; (26) E . Frossard collection 844 (Bangs & Co . ,
October 2-3, 1884, catalogued by Frossard).
AU grades ; (27) J. Kelly 14 (MBS June 1 , 1953); (28) Gibson 8 (Stack's,
November 11 , 1974), said to be Condition Census.
The obverse die, having been used earlier in G-4, is less sharp than the
reverse (NN 59th sale 1111), which is used for the first time. Signs of
obverse rusting appear early and become more pronounced as the rusting ad-
vances . Ross reports a break from "ribbon to hair" (NUMISMATIST,
September, 1915, page 310) and the Williams 671 (Numismatic Gallery, 1950)
is said to show a "shattered die". This may refer to the terminal state,
where the crack extends from the edge, through Cap and hair, to R in
LIBERTY (N . Shultz 303, December 31 , 1925). This is the only other 1793
die (besides the G-4 reverse) which broke.
The reverse die is perfect and remains so. Only the appearance of rust
evidences the later state .
1793 G-4, C— 1
Add the following:
Uncirculated grades ; (22) S. H. McVitty 1 (B.M. Mehl, March 22, 1938,
which may be the Alto example since Stack's said that it may have derived
from "an early" Mehl sale; (23) S. Herstal 840 (American Auction Association,
February, 1974).
AU grades ; (24) 1 968 ANA Convention sale 1710 (A. Kosoff); (25) L.
Merkin 93 (June, 1972); (26) New England Rare Coin Galleries Catalogue Vol.
2, there graded AU50.
The obverse die is perfect and impressions are sharp during its early use .
It is probable that it did not start to rust until its G-4 mating.
The development of the reverse die is more complicated. At first, the
die is perfect (Norweb, Clapp-Eliasberg) . Then, reverse buckling starts,
ultimately rendering HALF CENT invisible, and producing coins with
- 298 -
characteristically weak borders. It would appear that CENT weakens before
HALF (Earle 3600, B. Bluestone 247, December 3, 1942), that EN of
CENT weakens before the C and T (1968 ANA Convention sale 1 710, Kosoff),
and that the T weakens next (Herstal 840) , followed by the C , at which time
HALF has also weakened considerably.
In the late reverse die state, HALF CENT is all but invisible, and a
break appears along the edge from F to AMER . Frossard saw this break,
in a later state, extended from O to R (Monograph, P 38). Proskey also
reported the extension (COIN COLLECTOR'S JOURNAL, December 1880,
page 178). Finally, Roger Cohen informs me of a break which he saw from
the top of the right upright of M in AMERICA to a bead above the upright of
E in AMERICA .
1 794 G-1 , C-9
Add:
Uncirculated grades ; (30) B. H. Collins 749 (E . Frossard, March 2-3,
1 897) .
AU grades ; (31) The Haseltine sale 843 (Bangs & Co., 1880); (32) B.
Bluestone 487 (September 29, 1945).
The Brobston EF coin appeared again as 1966 ANA Convention sale 1376
(A. Kosoff). The Brobston VF coin appeared again as "Winter" sale 1040
(Stack's, Jan. -Feb., 1974). One of the Alvord specimens, perhaps the one
graded VG by S . H. Chapman, appeared again as Gen. W. D . McCaw 2099
(T. L. Elder, November 22, 1930, graded F) .
The early obverse die state is perfect (Brobston VF; Alvord 12). A
crack develops from the milling, through the Cap, and down into the hair
(Brobston EF). Finally, a faint crack is seen through the tops of IBERTY,
ending in the field to the right of Y. There is a report of clash marks at the
neck and chin (B. Bluestone 283, January 13-14, 1939), but at what point they
appear, and later fade out, is not disclosed. The EMPIRE GUIDE notes that
the figure 7, and perhaps another figure, are faintly re-cut to the right.
The early reverse state is the same as it appears in the late state G-5
strikings; no break near the fraction (Alvord 12). It is said that a sharp
strike will show that "several leaves on upper right are cut over sprays of
berries and the berries show through, resting on the leaf surfaces" (L. Merkin
27, September 20, 1967). In the intermediate state, the rim near the fraction
starts to break, at which time the obverse break at Cap is faint. In the late
state, the rim at the fraction is quite broken (Kagin 48, January 3-4, 1975;
L. Merkin 27, September 20, 1967; EMPIRE GUIDE).
1794 G-2, C-1
I found this variety to be offered only about fourteen times in the many
catalogues which I examined. Add the following higher-grade examples;
AU grades : (6) B. Bluestone 283 (January 1 3-1 4, 1939); (7) B. Bluestone
248 (December 3, 1942)
- 299 -
EF grades: (8) B. Dreiske, List No. 10H; (9) M . H. Botender 349
(June 14, 1944); (10) Consignment "H" In J. C. Rawls sale, lot 1096 (Stack's,
June 12, 1970); (11) Cornell -Oglethorpe 493 (Stack's, May 30-31 , 1975).
The obverse die remains unbroken throughout its use in this variety.
I found no reports of clash marks or of rusting to distinguish the different
die states .
It is probable that the reverse die was broken when first used in this
variety, after its G-6 use. Gilbert wrote that "old specimens" of the variety
show a break from the border to the wreath, passing through both arms of E
in UNITED. In the late state of this die, the break has involved the H of
HALF (EMPIRE GUIDE).
1794 G-3, C-8
Add:
EF grades: (10) B. Dreiske, List No. 10H; (11) Kreisberg & Schulman
867 (April 3-4, 1959), "almost" EF.
VF grades ; (12) M. H. Bolender 962 (June 23, 1943).
Numbers 1 1 and 12 may be the same coin since both were said to show
light obverse scratches, and their grades are roughly equal.
Ruby I 185, graded F, was said to be the sixth finest known. David M.
Bullowa wrote that only 13 to 15 were known, in all (June 2, 1956, under
lot 705) .
The early obverse die state shows an unbroken die, and it probably re-
mains so during its G-3 use . A "beauty mark" is seen in the form of a small
raised dot in the space between the bottom of the Pole and the upper line of
the Bust immediately below the Pole . It is seen both in the early and late
states of the die .
The early reverse die state is also unbroken, but a die malalignment
causes a distinct weakness on the right and an absence of dentils (Brobston
VF). Sometimes, this is mistaken for "wear" (Comm. W. C. Eaton 981).
The resulting lack of parallelism probably causes the die to crack quickly,
accounting for the rarity of the variety. The break is seen at the rim over
the second T of STATES, and passed down through that letter into the wreath
(Ruby I 185). Clash marks are seen for a while, especially at the bottom line
of the Bust and the Pole . Reportedly, the crack through T later reaches the
A of HALF (Alvord 19), but more probably it extends instead to the L of
HALF (Brobston VF) .
1794 G-4, C-4
Add the new, large-lettered edge variety discovered by W. K. Raymond.
Also add the following higher-grade specimens:
- 300 -
Uncirculated grades : (25) Kreisberg & Schulman 868 (April 3-4, 1959)
ex Col . Green
AU grades: (26) T. L. Elder 1327 (May 25, 1940); (27) Rarcoa 23
January 18, 1 969) .
A number of cataloguers have said that high EF examples are at Condition
Census level, but I believe that the best six may be found within the 50 to 70
range .
In its early state, the obverse die is perfect (the Brobston Unc. and
Anderson-Dupont 1038). Clash marks appear fairly soon, between Cap and
hair, and are prominent. A bulge starts to develop between date and Cap
(Brobston EF), and gradually the swelling enlarges (NN 59th sale 114;
Quality sales 952, September, 1973). The clash marks are still quite visible
(Ruby I 1 83) . Finally, a break appears left of the date (L. Merkin 28,
September 20, 1967, reaching the hair (1954 ANA Convention sale 77,
Federal Coin Exchange) and becoming heavy (R. T. McPherson 16, Stack's,
1953).
The early state of the reverse die is perfect (Alvord 20; NN-MBS
September 26, 1967, lot 1). Gilbert noted that the die is flawed between the
right stem and ribbon (Cornell-Oglethorpe 494, Stack's, 1975). Clash marks
on the reverse die also appear quite early. Apparently, the first crack to
appear is a small one from the rim, passing diagonally through D towards the
first S of STATES (Gilbert). This widens to include the tops of STATES O
(F) (Ruby I 183; Alvord 22), and finally passes through almost all the letters
of the motto (Ross, THE NUMISMATIST, 1915, page 357). A number of other
rim breaks appear: one through I in UNITED (Gilbert); another through TE
of UNITED (Ross, supra, and Ruby I 183); another through the second T in
STATES to the wreath (Ruby I 183); and finally, another through M to a berry
in the wreath (Alvord 23, Ruby I 183 and 184). Rusting is also seen (NN June,
1 958 sale 248) .
Right-sided weakness is sometimes encountered (W. Hesslein 962,
September 24-25, 1926; Rarcoa 23, January 18, 1969), including a weak TY
(B. Bluestone 411 , February, 1945). It is also said that the weakness of the
curls, seen in late state strikes, is the result of the cracked dies (NN 51st
sale 248) .
1794 G-5, C-2a
The following higher-grade examples should be added:
Uncirculated grades: (21) T. L. Elder 1328 (May 25, 1940)
AU grades; (22) The Haseltine sale 842 (Bangs & Co. , 1880); (23) T. L.
Elder 1074 (June 11-14, 1924)
EF grades: (24) T. L. Elder 2686 (May 25-28, 1927); (25) Quality Sales
Corporation 951 (September, 1973) EF40, reverse laminations; (26) Essex
Institute 75 (Stack's, February 6-8, 1975).
- 301
At one time, it was felt that an upper range EF specimen was within
the Condition Census. I believe that this is now highly questionable.
It should be noted that a number of cataloguers have mentioned that some
reverses seem weaker them obverses ('’Dupont" VF25-Brobston; Kosoff’s
1966 ANA Convention sale 1377; D. M. Bullowa 1, June 2, 1956).
The early obverse die state is unbroken (L. Merkin 28, September,
1 968) . Hair lines are strong . Mode rate -to- heavy clash marks appear
("Dupont" VF25-Brobston; Holmes 1284) in front of chin and neck (Beck 765),
at the top of the head and behind the hair (Freeman 1036), all produced by the
wreath (A. W. Crans 623, U.S. Coin Co., 1918). After this, breaks appear:
one through the tops of ERTY and into the field for about one mm . (Freeman
1 036 and NN 61 st sale 112). The rim over ER finally breaks (Roger Cohen
informs me), eliminating some dentils. Before the rim breaks, a crack
appears in the left field to the numeral 1 .
The early reverse state discloses a sharp die . Most of the leaves show
their veins (Essex Institute 75) . Although the obverse clash marks are quite
pronounced, I find no report of corresponding reverse clash marks. The
only report of a reverse break is in the NN 61st sale (June 30, 1970), where
the Dr. Angus C. Black coin, lot 112, was described as showing a light crack
through the tops of OF AME . I find no mention of this elsewhere, not even
during the (presumably) later use of this die for the G— 1 strikes, where the
cataloguers described an entirely different break, the one gradually appearing
at the rim near the fraction. Hence, the OF AME break if puzzling; and, if
true, it means that many of the G-1 's or G-5's were not carefully examined.
1794 G-6, C-6
Add the following higher-grade coins (noted in the nine additional
catalogues I have searched;):
AU grades : (11) Paramount, CSNS Convention sale 1269 (E. Fellouzes
collection) May 22-24, 1970, AU50.
EF grades; (12) B. Bluestone 1575 (April 29, 1943)
The Cornell-Oglethorpe catalogue (Stack's, May 30-31 , 1975, lot 496)
said that the F specimen there offered was a Condition Census coin .
The early obverse die state begins with the late state G-8. The rim
break, or dentil crumbling, over ERT becomes progressively worse . In
addition, a break appears between B and E, going from the center of the
lower loop of B to the rim (Brobston) . Clash marks, first seen on G-8,
have not worn off completely. A light bulge, beyond 4, to the bust also appears,
which finally ends in a break to the border (Brobston) . Additional breaks
may possibly be found in the late state, but the reporting is inadequate to
establish whether they first appear here, or on the G-7 variety.
The early reverse states are perfect (Brobston). It is probable that in
the late state there is a crack from the rim to the wreath through E of
UNITED, since that crack is seen on the early G-2 reverse die state (Alvord 15).
- 302 -
1794 G-7, G-3
Add the following higher grades: (8) B. Bluestone 1576 (April 29, 1943)
AU; (9) Comm. W. C. Eaton 986 (H . Chapman, May, 1929) VF; (10)
Hollinbeck-Kagin 1124 (February 29, 1972), parts of the coin graded
variously as About VF, VF, and EF.
The early obverse die state starts (presumably) where G-6 ended. Judg-
ing from the scarcity of the variety, the obverse die quickly deteriorated in
its G-7 use so that terminally, the following conditions are seen: (a) a pro-
nounced dentil crumbling over ERTY, sometimes called wear; (b) a small
break left of B; (c) a small break left of B; (c) a small break between B and
E; (d) a break at E; (e) clash marks under the chin and in front of the neck,
sometimes called breaks; (f) a lightly^-bulged area to the right of 4, ending at
the border in a small break. I discount B. Max Mehl's finding of a break from
curl to border (sale of November, 1954, lot 1511), which is not otherwise
verified .
The reverse die states have not been discussed by the cataloguers.
Many, but not all, of the known examples of the variety show a pronounced
weakness at the top right of the obverse and the bottom right of the reverse.
Ordinarily, this might be thought of as the result of a mal-alignment of the
dies. However, it may have been caused also, in part, by the severe dentil
crumbling in the ERTY area.
Therefore, it is possible that the late die states are the unevenly struck
coins (such as Kagin 1124), and that this variety is rare because the obverse
die had to be discarded rather quickly.
1794 G-8, C-5
Add these higher-grade coins;
Uncirculated grades ; (13) Simon's Coin Co., Omaha, an Uncirculated
specimen with ANA certificate (COIN WORLD, February 20, 1974, page 69).
The Geiss coin was offered again by Lyn F. Knight without mention of the
cabinet friction which B. Max Mehl referred to in his catalogue (COIN
WORLD, August 14, 1974, page 14).
VF grades; (14) B. Bluestone 1577 (April 29, 1943); (15) S. Herstal
843 (American Auction Association, February, 1974). The Anderson-Dupont
1035, graded VF25, appeared in Stack's sale of March 15, 1975 as lot 818 and
was sold to Rarcoa.
Correction: Delete the Haseltine AU, sold in Bangs & Co. 1880 sale,
described as Maris No. 3, which corresponds to G-1 .
The early obverse die state is perfect and unclashed (ANS-Clapp) .
Impressions are sharp (Tilden-Ryder 265). Before long, clash marks appear
before the neck. Next, the rim over ERT begins to crumble, and the clash
marks have not yet worn off (L. Merkin 29, September, 1968).
The reverse remains perfect throughout its use in this marriage, and the
first cracks appear in its later G-3 use. Clash marks will probably be seen
- 303 -
on some specimens , although this has not been mentioned by the cataloguers .
It is sometimes implied that a weak HALF CENT shows a late die state, but
I do not believe that this is accurate. The ANS-Clapp specimen is an early
state coin with a weak central reverse .
1794 G-9, C-la
Add:
Uncirculated grades ; (27) Rarcoa 28 (May 2-3, 1969)
AU grades; CSNS 393 (Rarcoa, April 24-27, 1975); (29) Comell-
Oglethorpe 497 (Stack’s, May 30-31 , 1975).
The Alvord coin, probably lot 34, a VF and the highest-grade G-9 sold
in that auction, re-appeared as lot 2105 in T. L. Elder's sale of Gen. Walter
D. McCaw's collection, November 22, 1930, now graded EF. The NN 56th
catalogue sale (under lot 41 4) says that higher grade examples of this variety
are usually found on dark green or black planchets .
The early obverse die state is unbroken and unclashed. However, the 1 ,
7, and 9 show signs of having been re-cut on the original die (A. Overton's
1 963 ANA Convention sale, lot 95). Once it was said that the entire date was
re-cut (A. Kosoff's 1958 ANA Convention sale, lot 587). Clash marks appear
early in the use of this die, and the signs remain for a long time (Brobston;
CSNS 393), in the nose -to-neck area. The re-cutting marks around the date
fade out after a while, those around the 9 lasting the longest.
The early reverse die state is perfect, but it is flawed from M in
AMERICA to the rim (Essex Institute 76; Comell-Oglethorpe 497). Clash
marks appear left of H of HALF and right of the F (Brobston). Finally, there
is rim crumbling over AMEE, together with the clash marks. The rim crumbl-
ing is not the same as the flaw from the M to the rim.
(To be continued .)
*************
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FLORIDA MATERIAL :::: BUY/TRADE
Have over 1300 different Florida trade tokens, store cards, coupons,
chits, mirror cards, political items, transportation tokens, wooden
nickels. Buy singles and lots. Or trade U. S. Lg If it reads
"Florida", am interested
ALLEN CORSON BOX 261 , LR STA., MIAMI, FL 33138 EAC #1 55; LM/ANA
304 -
*************$
SWAPS & SALES
DOUG WINTER 1 Wincoma Drive Huntington Bay, N.Y. 11743
DO YOU NEED any auction catalogues to fill those holes in your library?
If so, send me your Want List and I will try to plug those holes.
4c************
WILLIAM NOYES Box 428 Monument Beach, MA 02553
WANTED: Copies of THE NUMISMATIST. Will pay reasonable prices
for complete (with covers) unbounded
copies of the following NUMISMATISTS.
Have a few early duplicates to trade .
1 888-89
Vol . 1
Need all issues.
1906
Vol. 19
Mar . /Apr . /June /July
1890
Vol . 2
Need all issues .
1908
Vol. 21
Need Sept.
1899
Vol. 12
Need February.
1911
Vol. 24
Need Jan.
1900
Vol. 13
Need August
1914
Vol. 27
Need May.
1901
Vol. 14
Need all but Feb.
1902
Vol. 15
Jan . /Feb . /Nov . /Dec .
1904
Vol. 17
Jan ./May/ July/Aug ./Sept ./Dec .
1905
Vol. 18
Feb . /A pr . /May/Se pt . /No v .
*************
LAWRENCE A. NILSON P.O. Box 3031 Ormond Beach, Fla. 32074
FOR SALE : 1 793 Wreath cent . $1 50 .
This coin has the wear of a 5-coin, but it has four punch
marks, approximately 1/32" in diameter, on the head and
about the word CENT. It's not really as bad as it may
sound .
*************
WARREN ENZLER 200 West 79th Street New York, NY 10024
WANTED - LARGE CENT LITERATURE
auction catalogues
monographs
reference works
*************
C. F. GORDON, JR. P. O. Box 246 Inverness, Fla. 32650
WANTED: For my collection - in any condition:
1807/6 Sheldon-272
Please write .
*************
305 -
DOUGLAS ROBINS, INC.
FOR SALE:
P.O. Box 823 Corvallis, Oregon 97330 U.S.A
1794
G-9 VF, but dark. Date somewhat weak (as
characteristic .) Few light rim bumps
295.
1797
G-1 Shattered die, struck over T, A & L
token . Uneven VF-20
295.
1807
G-1 VG-7
18.
1810
G-1 G-4/AG-3
13.
1835
G-1 VF-20
24.
1835
G-2 VF-20
24.
1849
VF, but two medium rim bumps
29.
H
1792
No Silver Center, one of five genuine
specimens . Good-5
P.O.R
n
1792
Birch electrotype . VF-30
1 95.
n
1794
S-1 9b VF, but dark, light porosity
595.
n
1798
S-187 MS-60, mint frost
1850.
n
1799/8
S-1 88 F-1 2 , reverse somewhat weaker, nice
surfaces for the grade
1000.
i*
1805
S— 267 F-1 2
34.
n
1806
S-270 VG-8
35.
n
1816
N-2 MS -60+ Red & Brown
225.
n
1834
N— 1 AU-50
70.
n
1839/6
Barely G-4
60.
n
1850
MS-60+ 70% mint red
165.
n
1853
MS-60, some mint red
*************
105.
DAVID W
FISCHER 5075C Scarsdale Drive Kettering, Ohio 45440
FOR
SALE:
Large Cent collection. 90 Sheldon varieties,
1 38 Newcomb varieties . Accurately attributed
and honestly graded . All dates and most major
varieties are included . Grades range from AG
to UNC. Will sell as single lot only. Conserva-
tive market value of $10,000.
Write for detailed list .
*************
BRUCE HARRIS
P. O. Box 215 Lumberton, N. C.
28358
FOR
SALE:
1 793 Large Cents
S-4 Basal state, but cleein $115.
S-5 GJood, but no date. Has four
obverse scratches 115.
S-lla About Fair-2, clean 100.
*************
- 306 -
JOHN W. ADAMS 55 Court Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108
FOR SALE, Duplicate Auction Catalogs. All catalogs prior to 1876 are scarce
and many of them are rare. However, the prices below are scaled to content
rather than rarity. A book on the early catalogs will be published next spring.
Date -all 1 800' s Owner/Cataloger
Rarity
Significant for
Price
1 /I 8/60
Alfred Hewitt/Bangs , Merwin
R5
$15.
2/28/60
Edw. Groh/Bangs, Merwin
R5
Store cards
25.
3/29/60
Chas. Morse/Draper , Morse
R7
Some late date cents
20.
4/25/60
Ezra Hill/Bangs, Merwin
R5
10.
7/1 2/60
Jacob Glosser/Bangs, Merwin
R6
Half Disme, a few
10.
patterns
1 0/24/60
F. J. Klein/Bangs, Merwin
R6
15.
1 1 /21 /60
Prime & Haines/Bangs , Merwin
R5
1804 cent, N.E. shilling 20.
1 1 /23/60
John Curtis/Bangs, Merwin
R5
10.
1 2/1 3/60
John Curtis/Bangs, Merwin
R5
Nice cents, N .E . shilling 10.
4/1 6/61
A . S . Robinson/Leonard & Co .
R5
12.
8/7/62
Satterlee & Mason/Bangs
R4
10.
Merwin
1 0/20/63
W . E . Woodward #3/Woodward
R4
Major sale overall
45.
7/27/64
Geo. Will iams/G.W. Beckford
R5
10.
& Co.
5/29/65
J.N.T. Levick/Levick
R6
Cents , proof sets , etc
. 25.
6/29/65
Cogan/Cogan
R5
17.
1 0/1 6/65
F.S. Edwards/Cogan
R5
Major sale overall
35.
3/26/66
/Bangs, Merwin
R7
17.
4/1 8/67
W.E . Woodward #1 6AVoodward
R4
Good general sale
25.
/Leonard & Co.
R6
12.
1 /26/75
"Widow Lady"/Haseltine
R4
15.
5/7/75
Cogan/Cogan
R4
17.
Take a 10% discount if ordering five or more pieces.
*************
PHILLIP D. HORNER 91 8 East Cherry Street Blanchester, Ohio 45107
"NOT TONIGHT. I’VE GOT A HEADACHE!" There's only one statement
which I've heard more frequently lately, and that is "No, I'm sorry. I
don't have a decent low grade S-1 89 with full nines and LIBERTY in
stock! "
Your help is urgently needed! I want a nice VG S-1 89, with all
lettering legible, full nines, and a defect-free planchet. Please write!
*************
- 307 -
JOHN F. HANZEL El -202, 5400 Bernard Drive Roanoke, Virginia 24014
FOR SALE: LARGE CENTS
1795
S-75
G5 L.E.
$60.
1810
S-282
G5
$10
1797
S-1 20b
G5
25.
1810
S— 282
G6
10
1798
S— 1 66
G4
9.
1810
S-283
G6
10
1 800/1 79
S-1 94
G5
14.
1810
S-284
G6
12
1801
S— 21 6
G5 rough
7.
1810
S-285
VG8 Sl.rgh
12
1801
S-219
G5 (3 Error)
30.
1813
S-292
VF20
90
1801
S-224
G5
9.
1814
S-295
VG7
15
1802
S-227
G5
10.
1 81 9/8
MS60
200
1802
S-229
G4
8.
1821
AU55 CD
275
1802
S-232
VG8 rough
9.
1831
EF45 LL
50
1802
S-237
G5
11 .
1834
VF20 LD,*,L 30
1802
S-241
G5
12.
1838
MS60
100
1803
S-258
FI 8
25.
1842
EF45 LD
25
1803
S-260
G5
9.
1843
6th H
AU55 SL
75
1803
S-2 60
G6
9.50
1850
EF40
15
1805
S-267
AG3
5.
1855
EF40 Upr.5a
15
1805
S-267
G4
6.
1855
MS 60 SI. 5a
60
1807/6
S-273
G5
12.
1 807/6
S-273
G6 Sm.rev.sc
. 10.
* * ***********
JEFF SHARP 216 N.W. 13th Street Corvallis, Oregon 97330
1 $ 1793 S-2 VF-20 superb color and surface $3,000.
H 1843 N-5 type of 1844 MS-65+ full red, full luster 1,000.
ft************
WILLIAM R.T. SMITH P.O. Box 514 Wilmette, Illinois 60091
FOR SALE;
1794
S-35
G4
ex H.A. Silberman coll.
$50
S-49
VG7
Obverse die crack
70
S-56
FI 2
Office Boy reverse
150
S-67
FI 5
Head of 1 795
150
1795
S-73
FI 2
Perfect obverse die
375
S-73
G6/G2 Four obv. attempted drill
holes, ex Denis Loring coll.
25
S-75
VC510 L.E . , ONE CENT central
100
S-76b
VC510 P.E., ONE CENT high
80
S-78
FI 5
P.E., ONE CENT central
125
S-80
VG510
ex Warfield -Masters
2,750,
1796
S-91
F12A/G10 Last of the Lib. caps
100
1797
S-1 31
VF25
Stmls wr; latest obv. die st.
275
1798
S-1 78
VG57
ex Bitler sale
300,
*************
- 308 -
LATE DATES In nice condition at REDUCED PRICES
Ray Chatham
Box 5996
1816
1619
1822
1823
1824
1826
1827
1828
1829
1830
1832
1833
L834
1836
N2a, sere. pi'. rev. F12 $32.
N2c, swell at 9 VF35 68.
another VF25 35*
N T 9a,slt rev dnt VF33 13*
Nl,very sere. F12 13.
N3a,spot on cheek VF30 20.
MO, rev dnt EF60 only 19.
N2b,G3 only 9»
N 2a, rev dnt, obv AU only 39*
Nl, 11, nicely toned AU?0 6l.
K3b,rgh but EF63 only 18.
Nila obv rgh & perf.30 l6.
Mb, Lge D sere VF30
Nb, 28/88 VF20
MO, VF23
N^a, scarce NICE F13
scarce VF20
V. scarce VF20
Nob S.L. V. sere FI 3
Nla VF20
N3,
Nil.,
Nla VF20
Nl^b VF33
Nlfb,rim nic VF30
N2ia, " " VF30
N3^,very nice VF23
N3a,EF $60; 36 VF20
N6b, scarce EF60 but bit
porous , reduced $33 to
N3,1,VF23 $18; VF33
Nb,Tlb, VF2)
37.
23.
28 .
19.
19.
28 .
33.
12 .
11 .
28.
19.
II:
12.
20.
23.
13.
1838
1839
i860
N1J, Booby, VF30
Nil, " AU30, $123 to
N13 " AU30, $123 to
Nl6b VF23,near CC sere
N3» MSoO and ONLY
Noa AU33 clnd
N9b EF 3 3-6-0
Nila nice brn AU,sm.dnt 32.
N13 very nice EF 30.
26..
99.
g:
16-3.
18414-
186-3
100 .
15.
1 ?.
28 .
20 .
13.
18 .
38.
38.
1837 N2)a/b,brks betwn a & b 22. 186-3
186-6
Nil, very nice Ef6o-65 33.
N7,(?&8,St.b) AU35 ol.
N9u v. scarce VF25 20.
NlOa lght brn EF 23.
N13 PHC LL, Beauty AU35 76.
N3b, Obv. RE, repolished
dies, another Ety MS60 123*
n6-,1,EF6o $23; No VF30 17.
N9a AU30;N10,11,AU30 ea 33.
N13b V.scarce“Pl2 38.
Nl,39/b VF 4 225 to 198.
N3a,T.38 EF6-0 33. 186-7
N8 ,hd ol 6-0 F12 13.
N9b, Silly AU30 $89.VF/eF24.
Winston-Salem, N. C. 27103
186-1 N2b, EF43-30 $75..
N3b, MSoO teensy nicl23.
N4b, ef6-0 60.
N3a,0C RC ,AU $100, VF 25.
N3b,0C RP scarce 20.
N6 no reduction MS 250.
N7a MSoO, sm obv flw 125.
N7b v. scarce VF20 30.
186-2 N4b scarce VF25 20.
N6a dot EFilO 20.
1863 N6b 62/66- VF30 50.
same VG 1?.
Nba old toning VF30 18.
N9b T62 No wear MS60
but slty rgh
Nila VF-EF $20;VF20
N12 VF20
N13a 62/66 VG10
N2 66/81 VF20
N3b VF30
N5a EF60 bit rgh
N7 V.Nice AU50
Noa " "
N9d Rare OF erk MS60195*
NlOa AU55 only 6-0.
NlJd Rare EF60 50.
Nil interesting coloring
red to lgt olive, MS 100.
N12b V.rare VF30 53*
Nl6b nice T D MSoO 125*
UNLISTED Obv. 10/Revo
WSJ • s'TT^b & Obv. 9/Rev.
new, WEJ's Nlo,Ea.VF 69.
Nlc even brn perf.60 95*
N6b scarce EF 25.
N7c Ob. RB faint, F15 20.
Nllb AU50-55
Nl6b MSoO nice TD
NlSb V.nice EF65
N20b V.nice EF60
UNLISTED Obv. 8/Rev. 10
I FerETn, '72, #123 93.
N6c rare St. a rev erk
VF30 $20 VF20 13.
N8c rev. erk. T-T,EF 35*
N9 V. scarce AU50 30.
MO V.nice AU55 30.
N13a rev. erk. ME EF60 30.
Nl3b same erk to R " 30.
N15b ” ” " F15 10.
Nlbb rev. erk. A rare
N22 EF $15; N23, 11
A rare VG10
186$
35.
120 .
20 .
16.
13.
10 .
(Lined ( 11) equal St. 2)
309 -
Ray Chatham, continued. Page 2
181+8 Nib scarce MS63 $120.
same AU50 65 •
Noc V. scarce VF35 20.
Nod V. scarce VF50 18.
NlOa EFij.0 20.
NlOb VF30 $12; 22b, 35 12.
N25 AU55/50 l+o.
N 27 b scarce AU55 60 .
1849 Nlc VF20 #10;N7b,ll,
scarce VF30 12.
Nllb scarce VF35 12.
N17b V. scarce VF25 15*
N20b V. nice EFl+0 15.
Ic50 Nlc VF35 $12. MS60 with
small plan flaw ONLY 50.
N2,l EFl+0 sm. spots 10.
N10~MS6j and very sm rim
plan flaw, ALL Red
Only $100. Same very
nice MS6 5 , beauty 125.
(first priced #123,4175)
l8?l N3a 51/81 EF( FI 5 ^$12 ) 25.
N 5c FI 5 $12; EF45 50.
N4a Er'45 $50. N5 AU50 35-
Nloa MSbO,few nics,AU y3.
N17b VF30-55 $12. WEJ'S
UNLISTED N43 V_Rare 35.
1852 Nla VF #10;Nl+b EF rgh 12.
1053 N3b EFl+0 #15.Nl+b,VF, 50.
(am told N4b v.rare)
N8b V G10 $8, SPl+0 20.
NlJa MSt>5 & a steal 110.
N15 no wear but dark i+0.
N14b VF30 $12 ; EFl+0 20.
N19 MSbO toned red to
light olive, only 60.
N25a v.nice EPi+5 20.
N55b VF35 only 12.
1651+ N8a choice lgt brn MS60
well struck only 85.
N8a EFl+0 15.
N19b Ex Dupont jS^999 rare
MSoO,lght brn, bit redlOO.
N19b VF25 #1?. N23 light
brn beauty AlHO-55 l+5«
1855 N3 EFl+5 #20. N4a,rr,VF 12.
N7 VF55 #12. N9a rare
no knob VF50 50.
N9b knob EF #35.aEF 28.
N§c knob plus Y crk
very rare st.EF/AU75«
1636. H9 , 111 , scarce VF25 12.
NlOTTTl VF35 $10. aAU 15.
Nllf Heaut Ii'ul MSbO 00.
1857 Nla Lge D file ms UNI AU $50.
sare VF3 0 32.
N2b Sm D F15 22.
Ni+ nice AU 82.
N4 VF20 few nics only 22.
There are a few coins left from
THE DATE SET:
S8l,179b MS 65 , unquestionably the
2nd Finest Known. The French-Clarke
listed as Finest in Penny Whimsy,
same as described in the French
catalog, mostly red and certainly
famous. Last year Dr. Shelaon recog-
nized it at a single glance, and
exclaimed ’why wasn't this in MY
collect ion?? ? J The Naftzger Sale
coin was eroneousjy listed because
it happened to be in a DR. French
box. On the 1972 basal values, using
the Sheldon formula, this EAC adds
up to $loOO.From '93 to '9b UNC
EAC's have gone up from lOO/o to as
much as i+33/& since 1972. $2900 is
certainly a reasonable price for
this famous , pedigreed cent.
S21+1+ reduced from $1250. to $1000.
I did not list this in my last Ad
because I was going to buy it, but
I just got married, and this is the
last AD I will have. Things have
changed, but happily. The 2i+l+ is
the Wurtzbach cent and a beautiful
AU55»one of the prettiest l805's
I have handled. This cent may go
In the revision as AU30,but it will
still be the 2nd Finest Known.
S2i+7 Gaskill, Newcomb, graded MSoO,
but may go in revision as AUoo^ti®^
for 3rd Finest known $850.
I have been advertising an S12 at
$b 50 , re-engraved hair. Does anybody
want to make an offer? Also I have
about 100 EAC's left from last Ad
"Close Outs". If anybody would like
the Lot, I will send a list.
My new home is 533 Oaklawn, Winston-
Salem, N.O. 27104, phone 919-722-252
but please send orders to the Bx 399
as I get mail at 9 AW instead of 4PM
One last word:I vote for keeping the
EAC under ONE roof, even though I
may start another Half Cent collect.
Any member passing thru,pleez phone.
- 310 -
C. F. GORDON, JR. Box 246 Inverness, Florida 32650
FOR SALE: LARGE CENTS
1793
1817
N-1 1
9.50
S-11B
AG partial date
$200.
1818
N-7 good
6.50
1794
1818
N-7 fine
9.00
S-26
VG, red with digs
65.
1818
N-9
5.00
S-41
AG, brown
30.
1819
N-9
8.00
S-44
VG, damaged rims
35.
1820/19 N-1
6.50
S-51
Fine, grandular
100.
1820
N-1 3 VG
7.50
S— 65
VG, dark, grainy
40.
1821
N-1
7.50
1796
1821
N-2
13.00
S-85
VG, dark, grandular
75.
1822
N-1 0
6.50
S-92
Fine, It old Obv. Scr
60.
1824
N-5 R 5 AG
10.00
S-103
tan smooth 4/3
35.
1 824/1
7.00
S-1 05
Fair, strong date Rt.6
40.
1826
N-5 VG
7.50
S-1 08
Good, dark, grainy
39.
1827
N-5 VG
7.50
S-1 1 6
R-6, VG clipped
79.
1828
N-5 VG
7.50
1797
1828
N-2 VG
7.50
S-1 27
Good, nice brown R-5
50.
1828
N-1 0 VG
15.00
1798
1828
N-1 2
6.00
S-1 45
VG 8 nice brown R-5
35.
1831
N-1 Fine
9.00
S-1 52
AG, badly nicked
12.
1831
N-2 VF
15.00
S-1 70
Good 6
18.
1831
N-6 VG
6.50
S-1 77
R 5 Good
30.
1831
N-7 Fine
9.00
S-1 82
VG nice brown
40.
1832
N-1 VG
6.50
S-1 86
Fine but rough
25.
1832
N-2 Fine
9.00
1800
1832
N-3 VG
6.50
S-1 96
good, edge bang
10.
1833
N-1 XF
25.00
S-207
VG, grandular
25.
1833
N-1
6.50
S-209
Fine 15, but mushy
39.
1833
N-3J£ Dbl . profile
12.00
1801
1833
N-5 VG
6.50
S— 21 4
VG, pitted
•
O
CO
1834
N-1 VG
6.50
1802
1834
N-1J£ Dlb profile
9.00
S— 225
VF, cleaned, some
1834
N-2 VG
6.50
patches corrosion
50.
1838
N-4 VF
15.00
S-228
XF, Rev. some dark
1838
XF
25.00
corrosion
100.
1838
N-6 Fine
11 .00
S-229
R 4 VG brown
29.
1838
N-5 Fine
11 .00
S— 236
XF, dark, grainy
125.
1840
N-2 8 over 8
10.00
S-240
R 5, VG, scratches
25.
1841
N-6 VF
13.00
S-241
VG
15.
1842
N-8 VF
13.00
S-243
Fine, dig in Obv
30.
1844
N-5 VF
12.00
S-255
AU 50, even dark
1 844/81 N-2 Fine plus
15.00
brown, choicest in lot
350.
1845
N-1 4 VF
12.00
LATE DATE CENTS
1846
N-1 XF
17.00
1816
Good n-4
6.50
1846
N-1 1 VF
12.00
1817
N-6 '
6.50
1846
N-1 8 VF
12.00
1817
N-9
6.50
Returns okay, prices have
been reduced on many.
*************
- 311
RICHARD B. KNIGHT B-1 1 9, Glassboro State College Glassboro, NJ 08028
WANTED: 1834 N-5 and N-6. Condition not important so long as
coin is VG510 or better. Price depending on condition.
*************
GREG GERMAIN 5290 Prosperity Lane San Diego, California 92115
WANTED TO BUY: PEINNY WHIMSY by Dr. Sheldon et all
U.S. COPPER CENTS 1816-1857 by Newcomb
Both books are wanted for my private collection. Please write, quoting
condition and price wanted .
3fCS|C3|t3iC3ty:}j^Sfe3i£3f£3fEjf£3jCjfC
JON HANSON Box 5499, Beverly Hills, California 90210 or
c/o New Netherlands Coin Co., Inc., 1 W. 47th St., New York City, NY
10036
WANTED: United States Half Cents, including: Finest Knowns,
extreme rarities, high Condition Census specimens, true Mint State
examples prior to 1809, and an 1811 in GEM or true Uncirculated.
All correspondence cheerfully answered . Thank you.
RICHARD L. SMITH 1 M0 Grove Street Boulder, Colorado 80302
WANTED - 1803 Cent Errors;
off-centered double-struck brockage
laminations major clips
Give details and price wanted.
*************
DARWIN PALMER 2807 Knight Robin San Antonio, TX 78209
WANTED: Silversmiths' counterstamps on large cents.
Names or letters - any condition .
*************
- 312 -
BOB SHALOWITZ
P.O. Box 10416
Baltimore , Maryland 21 209
1793
S-3
VG10 two-tone brown, perfect surface
$1100.
1793
S4
G5 choice light brown
575.
1793
S-3
AG3 nice color, no damage, just wear
350.
1793
S-llc
G4 perfect color and surface
250.
1794
S-34
G4
250.
1794
S-38
VG7
250.
1794
S— 68
12 but rough
150.
1794
S— 69
VF25 beautiful light brown
450.
1796
NCI
G4
500.
1800
S-205
MS60-H- ex Pros ky-H ines-S heldon-Naftzger-
NN 11/73:520 Second finest known and the
actual "Straining at a gnat" coin mentioned
in Penny Whimsy, p. 261!
3500.
1795
S-78
MS60++ gem, with strong strike and no defects
whatsoever
2750.
1800
S-204
G6
20.
1807/6 S-273
VG1 0
25.
1816
N-4
MS 60
175.
1817
N-6
AU50
50.
1817
N-14
MS 65 50% blazing mint red
250.
1818
N-10
MS65+ full mint red
325.
1820
N-1 2
borderline MS 60, beautiful mottled color
150.
1820
N-15
MS 60+ ex Reynolds, Sartoris
200.
1828
N-6
MS60+, well struck, full cartwheel, but probably
dipped long ago
350.
1831
N— 7
A U 50/55 with mint color showing through
100.
1832
N-2
MS 65/60+
275.
1834
N-2
MS65 gem
400.
1837
N-2
AU50
60.
1837
N-4
barely MS 60
150.
1838
N-1 3
rarity 5,VG
15.
1851
MS 60
70.
1850
MS 65
235.
1857
N-2
Small Date MS 65+ semi-PL
350.
*******♦♦ + *♦#
r
- 313 -
■
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